Four-year delays on child dental care

THOUSANDS of children have been waiting for braces and corrective dental treatment for more than four years because of a critical shortage of orthodontists, it has emerged.

Some health boards report that they have been finding it very difficult to recruit such specialists.

Orthodontists are not covered by the stricken PRSI payments scheme, which was withdrawn by the Government this week as a long-term row over payment levels escalated.