Surgery delays 'forcing medical card holders to stay on antibiotics'

The Irish Dental Association says medical card patients are being forced to use antibiotics for prolonged periods due to long delays in arranging oral surgery.

The issue will be addressed by the group during their annual conference which gets underway in Kilkenny later today.

Fintan Hourihan, dhief executive of the Irish Dental Association says the introduction of waiting-time targets will help to address the problem.

"There are no targets in terms of emergency dental treatment, such as oral surgery," he said.

"That's something that needs to be happen, to be introduced, as a matter of some urgency."