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Tens of millions of dollars are being paid out in dental grants each quarter - and advocates say the total cost of excluding dental care from the public health system is more than the government would have to pay to fund it.
Dental care is generally only publicly funded for people who are under 18.
Ministry of Social Development data shows that in the March quarter of last year, just under 30,000 dental grants were issued, worth a total of $22.2 million.
Of those, 9330 were recoverable.
The quarter before, there were 28,398 worth $21.098m. In the three months before that, there were 33,045 worth $24,853.
Through 2023, there were similar numbers granted and a total of $90.199m issued in grants for the 12 months.
Dental grants of up to $1000 are available to people on low incomes and with limited assets each year. This does not have to be paid back. Grants above this amount may need to be repaid.
In a recent report, Citizens Advice Bureau said its clients wer
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