Row threatens restoration of dental benefits

Dispute over contracts could scupper plan to restore benefits and expand them to self-employed.

Plans to restore some dental benefits cut during the recession and to expand the scheme to the self-employed are in jeopardy as dentists push for a new contract.

Dentists and the Department of Social Protection met before Christmas to discuss the plans, which were announced on Budget Day, but a source said there were significant differences between the two sides.