Strengthening Oral Health Equity: Reflections from the NZDA Roadmap Launch 2025
The New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) has unveiled its Roadmap 2025. The launch, held at the Beehive’s Banquet Hall, brought together health leaders, government representatives, and community voices to set out a bold vision for the future of oral health in Aotearoa.
NZDA Chief Executive Dr Mo Amso, Director of Dental Policy Dr Robin Whyman, and NZDA President Amanda Johnston outlined the plan, which places equity, innovation, and partnership at the centre of improving oral health outcomes.
The roadmap directly addresses long-standing inequities, particularly affecting Māori, Pacific, and low-income whānau. It calls for affordable, timely, and culturally responsive dental care, alongside strengthened workforce development, new models of service delivery, and an emphasis on prevention.
Dr Ramil Adhikari (PHANZ Council member), attending on behalf of the PHANZ, said the roadmap aligns strongly with public health goals and provides opportunities for cross-sector advocacy to ensure oral health is embedded within wider health strategies.
The launch of this roadmap follows the recent release of the PHANZ’s policy position statement on Community Water Fluoridation, in which the PHANZ emphasises the strong body of international and national evidence supporting community water fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure.
The PHANZ recognises that oral health is shaped by a broad range of social determinants. While the PHANZ statement focuses on community water fluoridation, it should be understood within the wider oral health context in Aotearoa New Zealand, including the impacts of childhood poverty, food insecurity, unhealthy food environments, and the unmet demand, and barriers to access, for oral health care across the health system.
This focus aligns strongly with the roadmap, presenting important opportunities to engage in cross-sector advocacy, ensuring public health plays a key role in advancing oral health equity and shaping a healthier, more inclusive future for Aotearoa.