Tui Dental owner Dr Fiona Koshy is the complete antithesis to the ‘scary dentist’ character we all heard so much about in our school years. In fact, all dentists are, Fiona says. Why? Because they simply want to help.

For Fiona and her team of nine dentists, practicing across Tui Dental’s three sites in Te Rapa, Parkwood and Borman Road in Hamilton, their focus is on making patients feel at ease and instilling confidence in their dental health.

With thousands of patients in their care, Fiona and her team still find time to donate their services, when they can, to those who need it.

One of the ways they provide help is through their long-standing support of Braemar Charitable Trust’s Community Surgery Programme, where specialists and health professionals donate their time and expertise to perform free surgeries and health interventions for eligible patients.

“Dentistry in New Zealand is very expensive, and funding is tight – we’ve got free dental care up to the age of 18, and some assistance available for adults on a low income, but there are large portions of the population missing out on this vital service and therefore at real risk of complications from poor oral health,” says Fiona.

“And it’s particularly worse for those in our community who are sometimes completely cut off from accessing dental care at all, such as former refugees and those who have experienced family violence.”

A treatment pathway for those in serious need

So it is that Fiona and the Tui Dental team have thrown their weight behind a dental care pathway for refugees and people in the care of women’s refuge.

The Trust has funding from community partners, including the Glenice and John Gallagher Foundation and Clare Foundation, and has been working with Fiona and her team to treat many people who have been unable to access dental care for many years, and in some cases, decades.

“It’s something we are very proud to support, and we feel very privileged to be in a position where we can offer this help to people who otherwise would likely not receive it at all,” says Fiona.

“We recently helped a patient who arrived in Hamilton earlier this year after 19 years as a refugee in South Africa, having been forced to leave Somalia. His access to dental care had been very limited and his teeth had decayed to a point where he needed them all extracted and replaced with dentures.

“As a refugee, this was well beyond his means. He was in significant pain and was extremely self-conscious of smiling. Thanks to our partnership with Braemar Charitable Trust, we were able to provide full dental treatment and dentures, which he was incredibly thankful for.”

Tui Dental staff also volunteered their time at the Trust’s Community Surgery Days at Braemar Hospital, providing care from an on-site dental van.

A systemic issue

Originally from India, Fiona has been practicing in New Zealand for more than 25 years and says the level of need hasn’t changed during that time.

“Our system is failing us. Decades of under-investment ensuring access to care and creating a sustainable workforce has meant many, many dentists are donating time, skills and resources to treat patients in need.

“While there are subsidies and interest free loans available for some patients, it isn’t enough for the majority of people we see every day who struggle to afford care. We need sustainable funding that keeps up with community need.”

Compounding this is too little focus on the importance of oral health on overall health, Fiona says.

“I believe there needs to be greater awareness around oral health as a contributor to whole-body health, and over time, this will save considerable money and effort on treating other illnesses that are attributed to poor oral health.”

And until that happens, generous dentists like Fiona and the Tui Dental team continue to do what they can to help the people who need it most, a saving grace for Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker.

“We are deeply appreciative of Tui Dental’s support. Our partnership with them is one of like minds working together and it is an honour to work alongside Fiona and her team of wonderful dentists and see their commitment to patient care in action, especially to those who haven’t received dental treatment in a very long time – the way they go out of their way to keep them comfortable and build positive relationships is amazing. We are very thankful for their support.”

About the Trust

Braemar Charitable Trust is the 100% owner of Braemar Hospital, and the Community Surgery Programme is its flagship programme, in addition to a range of activities that deliver on the Trust’s charitable purpose to advance healthcare equity and access and improve health outcomes in our community.

From 1 April to 31 October 2025, the Trust has enabled 137 free surgeries for those in need.

The Trust has made it simple for anyone to donate to its work via an online donations portal where donors can choose to fund a specific procedure or a specific amount of their choosing.