Department defends commitment to oral health policy despite no date for implementation plan

The dental association found last year 25% of private practices are not taking in new patients. This is because their workload is too high already.

The Department of Health has defended its record on dental care in the wake of serious concerns raised by the Irish Dental Association around waiting lists for children and adults as well as dentist shortages.

Another key concern raised was the lack of an implementation plan for a 2019 oral health policy called Smile Agus Sláinte. This is despite commitments last June that it was being finalised at that point.