Thousands face long-term dental problems due to row

THOUSANDS of children are facing long-term dental problems because of the failure of the HSE to resolve a big row regarding the provision of orthodontic services in Ireland, a leading consultant has warned.

As the Irish Dental Association launched a sports safety campaign yesterday, Ted McNamara, a senior consultant orthodontist with HSE West, claimed a recent HSE report would do nothing to alleviate the shortage of orthodontists across the country.

Orthodontics is the discipline of dentistry that deals with repairing crowded or crooked teeth.

Mr McNamara and several other of the country’s top orthodontists are involved in a long-running dispute with the health authorities over the best method to train dentists into the profession. There are only nine full-time consultant orthodontists operating in the public health service.

“Public waiting lists mean nothing anymore because so many parents have felt it necessary to bring their children for private treatment,” said Mr McNamara.

He also expressed doubt about the value of new HSE guidelines for the eligibility of patients for public orthodontic treatment, even though he agreed with them in principle.

“The reality is that they will make no different to the number of patients getting treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Irish Dental Association has claimed many children could avoid unnecessary dental problems by wearing a gumshield while playing active sports.

It comes as research shows that one in four children will suffer big dental trauma before they reach 15 years of age, often as a result of a sports injury.

Launching a new safety campaign entitled No Gumshield — No Game yesterday, Irish Dental Association spokesman, Dr Edward Cotter warned that many oral injuries had long-term effects on speech, appearance and a self-confidence.

“While having no front teeth may be cute at the age of seven, it is certainly not the case at 17 or older. Shin-pads and helmets are now widely regarded as essential sports kit and we need to see a well-fitted gumshield worn whenever a child is playing sports,” said Dr Cotter.