Parents of boy facing 10-year-wait for dental care 'overwhelmed' at finally getting appointment

Tiernan Power-Murphy's parents raised their fears in the Irish Examiner this week

Six-year-old Tiernan Power-Murphy at his home in Co Waterford. Picture: Dan Linehan

An autistic boy warned of a 10-year wait for dental care has received an appointment for next week after his parents went public with their frustrations in the media.

Eamon Murphy said he and his wife Avril are “completely overwhelmed” to know their son Tiernan Power Murphy, 6, will soon see an end to the pain he is in.

“Both of us are on a high now, it’s fantastic news. We can breathe again, we are more relaxed now we know he’s going to be sorted,” he said on Thursday.

He added: “I hope this isn’t a one off thing now, I hope they keep pushing to get the other kids sorted, in other families. I hope they don’t take their foot off the gas now.” 

The Waterford boy will travel to Cork University Dental Hospital on Thursday to see specialist dentists there.

He needs three teeth extracted, a public dentist previously told them. However she had estimated the wait time as up to ten years.

“We’re really just very happy for his sake,” he said.

Tiernan does not really understand what is happening, but has needed antibiotics and pain relief for months now. It was so bad he could not attend school, and was often unable to sleep and was afraid to chew food at times.

Mr Murphy said ultimately it took a group of people to make this happen, including interventions from Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane as well as minister of state for mental health Mary Butler.

“It’s terrible you have to shout and roar to have something done,” he said.

Tiernan with his parents Avril and Eamon. Picture: Dan Linehan 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was questioned on this in the Dáil on Wednesday. He said: “A solution will be found immediately in respect of this specific case, as it should be."

He also said: “it is not a resource issue” and queried delays despite significant government funding for dentistry.

Fintan Hourihane, ceo Irish Dental Association, was astounded at this claim, saying dentists were shocked and angered.

“We understand the Taoiseach was given a briefing by his officials or the HSE, but it was at variance with the facts,” he said.

Recruitment of public dentists and consultant anaesthetists is urgently needed, with dentists numbers dropping by 25% over the last decade, he said.

He described too the impact of hospital overcrowding on waiting lists for general anaesthetic in dentistry. It is not unusual for autistic patients to require this approach.

“One dentist said to me ‘we would jump at the chance to treat children or adults with special needs if we could get into the theatres’,” he said.

He explained hospitals are so busy this winter they hold theatre space and beds to cope with surges in emergency department numbers. This means fewer beds available for dentistry.

“It’s because of the overcrowding and dentistry is not regarded as a priority,” he said.