Accessing dental care can be challenging for people living with mobility limitations, chronic conditions, or fatigue. For many, the stress and physical demands of visiting a traditional clinic can lead to missed appointments and declining oral health. That’s why Wholesome Smiles is changing the game in Wellington.
Meet Tia – Bringing Care to Your Door
“My name is Tia, and I’m an Oral Health Therapist running Wholesome Smiles, Wellington’s first mobile oral health service,” says Tia. “The idea came from supporting my grandfather, who faced mobility challenges and struggled to access routine dental care. That experience inspired me to create a service that meets people where they are.”
Recently, Tia visited a patient living with MS who had been searching for a mobile dental provider for nearly two years. This reinforced the importance of making sure the MS community knows that help is now available.
What Wholesome Smiles Offers
Wholesome Smiles provides a range of services designed to maintain and improve oral health without the need to travel, including:
- Preventive Dental Hygiene Treatment (scale and polish)
- Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy for gum disease
- Additional Services such as denture cleaning, fissure sealants, fluoride applications, and silver diamine fluoride treatments
And there’s more to come! Wholesome Smiles plans to expand its team to include dentists and dental technicians, offering fillings, root canals, and extractions in the near future.
Who Can Benefit?
- People with mobility limitations due to chronic illness or injury
- Older adults who find clinic visits difficult
- Anyone seeking compassionate, stress-free oral care at home
Payment Options
Wholesome Smiles is a registered provider with Southern Cross Health Insurance, and WINZ quotes are available for urgent treatments such as gum infections or periodontal care.
Other Mobile Oral Health Providers in NZ
While Wholesome Smiles is the first service of its kind in Wellington, there are a few other providers across New Zealand offering similar support:
- Dunedin Area:
• Extra Mile Oral Health Therapy – Melissa is an oral health therapist passionate about improving access to preventive care.
• Zaara Mobile Dental Services – Travels widely, sometimes as far as Invercargill. - Tauranga:
• Tauranga Special Care Dentistry – Focused on patients with special care needs. - Auckland:
• Mobile Dental Care – Primarily rest home visits, but may offer home visits too.
Supporting the MS Community
Tia is passionate about helping people living with MS and is happy to provide:
- Oral health education for patients and families
- Guidance on safe dental care for those with limited mobility or fatigue
- Contributions to support groups or events
If you’d like to learn more or book a visit, check out Wholesome Smiles or email hello@wholesomesmiles.co.nz.