Health New Zealand is acknowledging a lack of access to community oral health services for children is driving demand for hospital level treatment

Data shows as of March, there were just over five and a half thousand young people on the waitlist - and almost three thousand had waited more than 120 days.

Dental Association Director of Policy Robin Whyman says seeing children in community settings could help prevent issues escalating - but there are big workforce shortages.

He wants more coordination with tertiary providers to train more people.

Whyman says without an increase to the workforce in both dentistry and oral health therapy we are going to continue to struggle to deliver the care we need.