The retiring Politician, Jim Anderton has claimed the government treats dental health differently from other medical fields. He said that the government must extend the facility of free-dental care for all. Health Minister, Tony Ryall removed adolescent oral health care from his list of health priorities within his first year of appointment. It has been found that in 2009, two-fifths of teens were not taking advantage of the free oral care available to them.

Mr. Anderton has estimated that free dental health care for all New Zealanders would cost about $1 billion and he has proposed the government to fund it through income tax and a levy on sugar-high soft drinks.

He is expecting the Labor Party to accept his plan as a key health platform for this year's general election. He said that removal of four wisdom teeth last year cost him around $6000. General public has to bear even higher cost of dental care and due to which, most of the people avoid going to their dentists. He has advice to bring reforms in the dental health care to prompt more people to go for routine dental check-ups.