UTOPIA LAB

THE PROBLEM

There is a crisis in dental care.

– One in three New Zealanders live with untreated tooth decay.– 32,000 children and 274,000 adults had teeth extracted in 2019 due to decay, an abscess, infection or gum disease.– Around 7000 children each year require dental treatment in hospital under general anaesthetic.– The rate of acute hospital admissions for dental care — including for potentially lethal conditions — is increasing.– Half of adults have signs