Dr John Bridgman
John Bridgman is a visiting Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon to Tauranga Public and Grace Private Hospitals. He also works in private practice at Tauranga Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He undertook his training in New Zealand and post fellowship appointments in East Grinstead, UK and Freiburg, Germany.
Dentist scientific programme
Acute Oral and Maxillofacial admissions to Tauranga Public Hospital:2005-2019
Acute oral and maxillofacial admissions to Tauranga Public Hospital over a 15 year period were analysed. Serious trauma rates fell. Severe infection rates increased and disproportionally affected Māori. There was a near tripling for serious dental infections immediately following the cessation of free dental care. It appears that the escalation of unmet dental disease could reduce if vulnerable groups were given better access to primary dental care.