A Social Democrats\u2019 motion highlighting the deepening crisis in dental care in Ireland will be debated in the D\u00e1il on Wednesday (May 22).<\/p>\n
R\u00f3is\u00edn Shortall TD, the party\u2019s health spokesperson, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cDental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school screening programme is of particular concern. Children are supposed to have free check-ups in second, fourth and sixth classes with HSE dentists.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, some pupils are not getting their first appointment until they are in fourth year of secondary school due to mounting waiting lists and a staffing crisis that has seen a 23 per cent reduction in the number of HSE dentists between 2006 and 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are an estimated 104,000 children on a waiting list for the school screening dental service out of an eligible 208,000 children. In the past five years, there has been a 31 per cent reduction in children seen by HSE dentists.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) is also in crisis, with the number of participating dentists dropping by almost 50 per cent in the last 10 years. Of the 810 dentists currently signed up to the DTSS, only 600 are active.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are significant problems with how the DTSS operates. For example, the scheme restricts the number of preventative treatments allowed to save a tooth, such as fillings, but permits an unlimited number of extractions. There is also a major gap between the current fees paid to private dentists by the HSE and the costs they incur.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Minister for Health announced in May 2021 that he would instruct his officials to begin talks on a new scheme as a matter of urgency. However, three years later, the Irish Dental Association are still waiting for formal talks to begin.<\/p>\n