“Tooth Fairy” Sentencing Raises Concerns Over Dental Services Gap

Unqualified Dental Technician Fined for Operating Home-Based Service

NEW ZEALAND: Claire Wihongi-Matene, famously known as the “Tooth Fairy” in Northland, has been fined $7000 and ordered to pay over $3000 in reparations for working as an unqualified dental technician. 

Operating from her home in Tautoro, south of Kaikohe, Wihongi-Matene provided denture services to Work and Income (WINZ) clients and the elderly. After her service was shut down in 2019, she faced a legal process and was sentenced in the Kaikohe District Court on Monday on seven charges laid by the Ministry of Health.

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Mixed Community Reactions

While Wihongi-Matene faced charges for her unqualified dental work, she enjoyed substantial support from the Kaikohe community. Approximately 40 people protested outside the courthouse, holding placards declaring her innocence. 

Some supporters even faced refusal of entry due to limited courtroom capacity. The case once again brings attention to the scarcity of dental services in towns like Kaikohe, lacking both a dentist and qualified denture maker despite being a service town for a large area with high health needs.

Community leader Danny Watson argued that the Ministry of Health’s failure to provide dental services created a void filled by Wihongi-Matene’s services. He questioned why officials did not offer support to allow her to continue permitted work instead of pursuing a costly legal case. The community contends that her services positively impacted lives and should have been supported rather than stopped by the ministry.

Victim Impact Highlights Issues

Elwyn Jones, husband of the late Kararaina Jones, presented a victim impact statement, illustrating how his wife experienced difficulties with the dentures made by Wihongi-Matene. 

His wife choked during a mould-making process and was never able to use her ill-fitting dentures, impacting her daily life and diet. The case highlights the potential risks and consequences associated with unqualified dental services.

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Prosecutor Geraldine Kelly sought fines totaling $23,000, emphasizing that Wihongi-Matene’s actions were deliberate and put patients at serious risk. The defense argued for a discharge without conviction or, at worst, a conviction with reparations only, considering Wihongi-Matene’s financial situation and her commitment to helping others. 

The judge imposed a fine of $1000 for each of the seven charges, along with reparations for three patients and court costs.

Lack of Dental Services Persists

Outside the court, Wihongi-Matene expressed relief that the stressful time had ended. Despite the legal ordeal, she remains determined to help her community. However, Kaikohe is left without denture services and still lacks a dentist. The community relies on a pain clinic for tooth extractions for individuals with a Community Services Card. Wihongi-Matene, though currently facing financial challenges, expressed gratitude for the support she received from the community.

The case underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring accessible and qualified dental services, especially in rural areas where gaps in healthcare persist.