Data from the 2002 National Children’s Nutrition Survey were examined for dental service use and dental care receipt among 3275 participants (37.4% Mäori, 32.2% Pacific and 30.3% New Zealand European or Other). Irregular dental attendance was associated with children who were 11 –14 years, Pacific, had not always lived in New Zealand, lived in rented accommodation, frequently watched television, consumed breakfast on the way to school, purchased lunch, consumed sugar-containing products or had food security issues. Tooth restoration was associated with the 11 –14-year age group, Mäori ethnicity, low household income, households with 4+ children, regular television viewing, consuming breakfast on the way to school, frequent consumption of high-sugar foods, food security issues, children experiencing dental pain at night or who had received dental care under a general anaesthetic. Tooth extraction was associated with Pacific ethnicity, low household income, children who had a disability, purchased their lunch, regularly consumed high-sugar-containing products, had food security issues, had experienced dental pain at night or received dental care under a general anaesthetic.
