HONG KONG: A rapidly ageing population and widening wealth gap are contributing to an urgent need for affordable access to dental services in Hong Kong. On 26 May, city health authorities began offering thousands of additional appointments to social welfare recipients as part of a new scheme to improve oral health. Crucially, under the Community Dental Support Programme, government dental clinics now provide poorer residents with non-emergency treatment, including routine check-ups, radiographs, tooth restorations and extractions.