Government not showing 'necessary urgency' in solving dental issues

The IDA says that more than 80% of dental care is paid for as an out-of-pocket expense by patients

The Government will be accused of not having the "necessary urgency or priority" in dealing with the concerns of Irish dentists.

Representatives of the Irish Dental Association (IDA) will tell an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday morning that Ireland is struggling with equitable access to dental care, patient safety, and workforce and capacity challenges.

The IDA says that more than 80% of dental care is paid for as an out-of-pocket expense by patients.

They will say that the medical card scheme has been "spiralling into chaos over many years," noting that a meeting with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to discuss a new scheme for payments to dentists has yet to take place; three years after it had been promised by the Government.

Fintan Hourihan, head of the Irish Dental Association (IDA).

In a statement to the committee, chief executive of the IDA Fintan Hourihan will explain: "Dentists feel we are always one excuse or one more promise away from anything being done by the State."

He will say that between 2012 and 2021, the number of junior doctors has risen by 52%, hospital consultants by 44% and nurses have increased by 20%. In comparison, the number of dentists employed by the HSE has fallen by 23% between 2006 and 2022.

The IDA will highlight that in December there were 30,000 adults and over 5,000 children on outpatient waiting lists at CUH.

They do say that the only "hope we can cling to" is the World Health Organisations' global oral health strategy — of which the Government is a signatory.

Mr Hourihan concluded: "There is so much that we need to see done and the State has a central role to play in enabling greater access to dental care, in ensuring patient safety and in ensuring we have as many dentists as we need to provide the highest standard of dental care and treatment our citizens expect."