Orthodontists from the Wish For a Smile Trust are offering Christchurch teens who cannot afford orthodontic treatment the chance to fix their teeth for free.
Orthodontic treatment is not free and the cost means that many children go without the treatment they need with consequences for their self esteem etc. The Wish for a Smile Trust is a public health initiative of the New Zealand Association of Orthodontists and aims to make specialist orthodontic treatment available to young New Zealanders who would otherwise be unable to access orthodontic care.
There are some conditions so acceptance is not guaranteed. The child’s need will be identified by a dentist or dental therapist first and a bit of paperwork filled out that details family income, and letters supplied from the family and others in support of the application. The recipient, aged 11-18 at the time of the application, will need to give back to their community through voluntary work and wider family may need to contribute a small amount financially.
All the forms required for the application can be downloaded from the website :www.orthodontists.org.nz/wishforasmile
