Dentists warn of impact of cuts

Medical card holders seeking dental treatment are being warned that they may now be offered tooth extractions and antibiotics instead of fillings.

The Irish Dental Association said today a 30% cut in HSE funding will seriously impact on dental care for patients with medical cards.

It said the cut will lead to nearly half a million less treatments, meaning thousands of patients with tooth decay may have no option but to have the tooth out.

At a press briefing today in Dublin, the IDA said that all medical card holders, including the over 70s, children and special needs patients, will be affected by the cuts.

The Association, which represents 2,000 dentists all over the country, said that patients may be forced to resort to legal action to force the State to provide appropriate dental care.

!As it is the system is barely limping along," said IDA Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan.

"These new cuts are akin to the introduction of rationing. But how do you ration dental treatments?

"Not for the first time the most vulnerable in our society will suffer most and these measures will widen the divide between the less well off and those who can afford to be treated privately."

The IDA called on Health Minister Mary Harney and the HSE to "examine all alternative means of limiting the impact of these cuts",