Dentists warn over state of oral health

DENTISTS have warned of an irreversible decline in the nation’s oral health as new figures reveal there were 700,000 fewer treatments carried out under the state’s dental scheme since the cuts were introduced in January, a drop of almost 60%.

Commenting on the figures from the Department of Social Protection, the Irish Dental Association (IDA) has warned the 57% fall off in treatments claimed under the pay related social insurance (PRSI) scheme would increase to over 60% by the year end.

It blamed the downgrading of the scheme in last year’s budget for the dramatic decline. Since the start of the year, the only treatment available free under the PRSI scheme is an annual examination.

Before the scheme was dismantled, taxpayers were provided with some treatments for free and received contributions towards the costs of most routine treatments. Limits were also placed on fees for other treatments, depending on the claimant’s earnings.

According to the figures, the number of claims made under the dental scheme is down by 45% while Government spending on the scheme is down 56%.

The IDA warned that the dismantling of the PRSI scheme would have serious consequences in the short term for the nation’s dental health.

“Dental problems which are not treated now tend to require greater care and treatment and could lead to irreversible decline in the oral health of the nation,” said IDA chief executive Fintan Hourihan.

“This cost-efficient scheme should be restored to the greatest extent possible on a gradual basis because it will actually save us money and protect the health of the nation,” he said.

Mr Hourihan, who described the latest figures as “alarming”, said taxpayers were being short changed.

Ordinary taxpayers were continuing to pay up to €53 a week in PRSI contributions but were receiving very little in return.

“Now we can see the real effects of the Government’s downgrading of this scheme,” he said.

“Consumers are constantly being encouraged to highlight cases of miss-selling. This is surely a blatant example,” said Mr Hourihan.

The IDA has also claimed that charges have risen up to 14% because of the Government’s decision, and that patients would have been hit even harder if the vast majority of dentists had not frozen or reduced their fees, in some cases by over 20%.

The IDA has called for an urgent meeting with the Minister for Social Protection, Eamon O Cuív, to discuss the situation.

Meanwhile, the IDA says a survey of dentists shows that almost half of practices have reduced staff through redundancies and layoffs.

Income had fallen in 92% of practices, with nearly two thirds reporting a fall of up to 40%.