Maori get teeth into dental woe

Lack of tooth and mouth care is reaching a crisis among Maori. In Manurewa, they've decided to do something about it, reports Jeremy Olds.
Taroi Tofilau hadn't visited a dentist for more than 16 years. When his gums began to bleed, he booked an appointment.
"My dad always made sure I brushed my teeth, so I never had any real urgency to go," he says.
The bleeding was the result of tartar build-up behind his teeth, which was fixed with "a thorough, unpleasant clean-up".
However, the Manurewa resident was shocked to learn he needed eight fillings and a wisdom tooth removed, totalling just under $1000. "I went into it knowing it wasn't going to be cheap."
Recognising that lack of dental care is reaching crisis proportions in some sectors of the population, Maori and government agencies are confronting the issue and working to boost oral health of whanau across New Zealand.
A book on the subject, Oranga Waha - Oral Health Research Priorities for Maori, highlights the poor state of oral health among Maori and indicates the need for further monitoring and research in the field.
Its co-author, Bridget Robson, says New Zealand's dental healthcare system does not meet the needs of many low-income Maori families.
"Many of the people we interviewed had not been to the dentist since high school because it is too costly, or they had had bad childhood experiences."
Ms Robson says the book includes strategies on educating Maori about the importance of dental hygiene and improving overall access to oral healthcare services.
"To have good oral health is to enjoy good kai, hongi, smile and laugh without embarrassment and be free from disease that affects overall health."
She says there are very few statistics on Maori oral health, but she hopes the book will be used to stimulate policy and research concerning the state of Maori oral health in this country.
"We hope this document will support research students as a basis to move forward from. The book has really raised the profile of oral health as an important health issue for everyone, but especially Maori."
Bite-sized facts
Findings from the Oranga Waha study include:
* Clear evidence of an unmet need for dental care among adults, with nearly half  feeling they  need dental treatment. In the past year, nearly half of all adults have avoided dental care because of the cost; one in four go without routine care. 
* Poorer oral health and visits to the dentist by adults, particularly men, younger adults (25-34 years), Maori, Pacific people, and people  in lower socio-economic areas.
* One in 10 adults aged 18-64 has taken, on average, 2.1 days off work or school in the previous year because of problems with their teeth or mouth.
More info: www.maorihealth.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/oranga-waha-oral-health-research