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Topic: Updates from Hospital and Community Dental departments in Te Manawa Taki Branch members are invited to hear updates and insights from the region's hospital and community dental departments. We will present a summary of the key services provided, referral pathways and contact methods across the departments. We will also highlight some key people working to improve oral health locally, and exciting projects and initiatives that are aiming to support our patient groups.

Learning outcomes

Awareness of the key services provided by the Hospital and Community Dental departments in Te Manawa Taki, referral pathways and contact methods across the departments.

Further information 
Speakers

Dr Jenny Norris BDS (Sheffield UK) 2002

Jenny Norris graduated from the University of Sheffield, UK in 2002. She then completed two years of General Professional Training in the north-east of England working between an NHS dental practice and the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Dental School. A further two years followed working in an Oral and Maxillofacial unit at regional hospitals, before spending four years treating adults and children with special needs and medical complications in a community dental setting. Since moving to New Zealand in 2010, she has predominantly worked as a community dentist in the Waikato region, which

Dr Rudi Johnson BDS, (Otago) 2005

Rudi Johnson is a general dentist who graduated with a BDS in 2005 and she is part way through her Masters in Community Dentistry. Rudi has been in clinical and leadership roles for Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora Hauora a Toi BOP since 2009, in both the hospital and community dental teams. Rudi is deeply passionate about improving oral health for Māori, by encouraging whānau, supporting colleagues and working within the public health system, to uphold its commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Dr Sunethra Tennekoon BDS, (Otago) 1989. DClinDent, Special Needs Dentistry, (Otago) 2022

Sunethra Tennekoon graduated with her BDS in 1989 and her DClinDent, Special Needs Dentistry 2022 at Otago University. Sunethra is a Specialist in Special Needs Dentistry currently working at Waikato Hospital's Specialist Dental Unit. She has worked as a General Dental Practitioner for 17 years and in the Hospital Dental setting for 16 years in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia. During that time, Sunethra has also taught undergraduate clinical dentistry for 10 years.  Sunethra started working as a Special Needs Dentistry Specialist at Waikato hospital's Specialist Dental Unit in 20

WBOP NZDA General Meeting | Sept 2025 | Topic: Community Dental


Speakers:

Dr Jenny Norris BDS (Sheffield UK) 2002

Dr Rudi Johnson BDS, (Otago) 2005

Dr Sunethra Tennekoon BDS, (Otago) 1989. DClinDent, Special Needs Dentistry, (Otago) 2022

Friday 26th Sep 2025
6:30pm - 10:00pm
Venue: Persimmon Lane
58 Te Puna Road
Tauranga
Region: Waikato/Bop
Brought to you by Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch NZDA
c/- 49 Robinson Street
Cambridge
3434
New Zealand