More dentists to be trained in NZ after funding boost

The number of student dentists will increase next year for the first time in more than a decade.

Earlier this year, the Dental Association told RNZ the number of dentists coming through the country's only programme at Otago University was not enough and needed to increase from 60 to 90 per year.

It was revealed some practices were waiting for up to a year to employ dentists, while others were having to close.

Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds announced on Wednesday that funded places for domestic dental students at the University of Otago would increase from 60 to 72 per year, with two of the new places set aside for students from rural backgrounds, lifting their minimum from 10 to 12 per year.

Dental Association president Dr Dave Excell said lifting the cap was the right thing to do in a growing country and it would mean shorter wait times for patients over time.

"We've asked for this for a long time and we're glad to see it happen. More dentists mean more people can get the care they need," he said.

Association director of dental policy Dr Robin Whyman said it was good that rural students were getting more places.

"Rural towns feel the shortage first. People wait longer or drive a long way for care and small problems turn into big ones. Students from rural areas are more likely to go home to work, so this is a smart use of the extra places."

New Zealand has 53 full-time dentists for every 100,000 people aged 15 and over, and almost one in five private practices has a dentist vacancy it cannot fill.

Dr Whyman said more action was needed.

"The first of these dentists won't be working until 2030 and many of today's dentists are getting close to retirement. We'd like the next government to keep growing places, so Otago can take on more of the students who want to study dentistry."