A free dental clinic run by volunteers in Dunedin has eased the pain of more than 100 patients in just four days.
But organisers say that's only a fraction of those needing treatment. As the cost of living increases, the number of people able to afford dental care decreases.
Jenny Moffitt hadn't seen a dentist for years.
"I've had four teeth taken out, I've had four fillings and one more to come today," she said.
It wasn't just the pain putting her off.
"The cost is horrendous, it's just not fair," she said.
A sentiment shared by more than 100 patients who received care at Otago University's free dental clinic each Sunday over the past month.
"I probably would've waited another 10 or 15 years until I was in severe pain and then get them all pulled out," said patient Duncan Mckenzie.
It's a familiar story and those referred to the clinic are just a fraction of those needing care.
"With COVID interruptions even the people who would normally seek episodic care are getting pushed off later and later so regular care is becoming acute and acute is becoming super urgent," said dental house surgeon Dr Jamie Marra.
More and more are turning up to the emergency department instead.
"The hospital dentistry has blown my mind in the numbers showing up into emergency departments around the country," said Dr Lisa Hanson.
"It's actually a really big burden on the system that we could probably prevent by investing up front and providing some basic care for all adults in New Zealand," added Dr Marra.
A burden that dentists say could be prevented by investing in basic oral health care.
The most recent Ministry of Health data shows not even half of all adults went to the dentist last year.
Earlier this year, the Government increased dental grants for low-income families from $300 to $1000 starting in December.
"We know that it is one of the areas that is high need but there are a lot of other areas that are in high need," said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Dentists are still hopeful.
"Our 20 DHBs have been disestablished. Right now there is an opportunity for reorganisation of the system to invest upfront in some dental care for all adults," Dr Marra said.
So more people can smile pain-free.
