Georgina Welsh is the founder of Map My Mouth, a kaupapa designed to make oral health checks more accessible by bringing services directly into the community. Her monthly visits to He Puna Waiora are breaking down barriers, one smile at a time.
When I first began Map My Mouth, it wasn’t about launching a programme, it was about solving a problem I saw over and over again.
Too many people were missing out on basic dental care. Not because they didn’t care, but because the system felt too hard to access. Between the cost, the wait times, and the uncertainty of where to even start, oral health had become out of reach for far too many. I wanted to change that.
So I started taking dental checks out of the clinic and into the community. Map My Mouth was built to bridge the gap, offering checks, education, and early intervention in spaces where people already feel comfortable. And one of those places is He Puna Waiora.
I visit once a month. These sessions aren’t about doing everything, but about starting something. I offer low-cost dental checks, oral health education, X-rays when needed, and most importantly, clear referral pathways. If someone qualifies for free treatment through the Southland Charity Hospital, I help get them there. But the very first step is access. And that’s where Map My Mouth fits in.
My whole approach is grounded in te whare tapa whā, the Māori model of holistic health. The mouth is the gateway to the body and keeping it healthy is vital to overall hauora. Sadly, the most common thing I see is gum disease. It’s preventable, but so many people come in when things have already gone too far. At that point, extraction is often the only option left.
Floss and brush! Prevention is powerful. It saves pain, it saves money, and it helps people feel confident again.
One of the most rewarding parts of this mahi is partnering with Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu, who have helped co-fund this kaupapa. Their team is absolutely incredible, and together we've created a space where people can get help without fear or shame. I’ve met some amazing whānau already. Strong, kind, and just needing that first step to be made a little easier.
Earlier this year, I was deeply honoured to receive the Hon. Dame Annette King Award for Excellence in Leadership and Oral Health at the NZ Oral Health Association Conference. Dame Annette began her career as a dental therapist, just like I did so to receive an award in her name was humbling in the truest sense.
Even more surprising was receiving a personal letter from Grant Robertson, former Deputy Prime Minister and now Vice-Chancellor at the University of Otago. He acknowledged Map My Mouth as an
innovative way to break down barriers to care and to be recognised in that way was honestly overwhelming.
Next on the horizon is the Dental for All roadshow, coming to Invercargill on September 30. We’ll be holding screenings and kōrero at the marae (details still to come), but it’s another opportunity to bring whānau together, talk about prevention, and show that oral health doesn’t have to be scary or expensive.
At the end of the day, I just want people to feel supported. Every check-up is more than a quick look, it’s about giving people tools, knowledge, and confidence. It’s about letting them know their oral health matters.
And if I can help even one person take that first step toward a healthier smile, then I know I’m in the right place, doing the right thing.
Dental checks are currently for enrolled patients only. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
