Public Sector Oral Health Service Provision for High Needs and Vulnerable New Zealanders: An Executive Summary

摘要

Introduction: The Strategic Vision for Oral Health in New Zealand identifies vulnerable New Zealanders and those who have high needs as priority population groups. High needs and vulnerable people are disproportionately impacted by poor oral health, a situation that is likely attributable to the difficulties they face in accessing and affording dental services, and their poorer access to other social determinants of health. In New Zealand, ethnic differences in oral health are also evident, with Maori and Pasifika having poorer oral health and access to oral health care than other ethnic groups. Moreover, they are overrepresented in the vulnerable population because they are more likely to live in poverty and be affected by material disadvantage.