Tiernan will not be the last child waiting in pain for dental treatment

The case of Tiernan Murphy-Power brought into focus an issue dentists have been highlighting unheard for years now 

Six-year-old Tiernan Power-Murphy with his mother Avri at their home Bunmahon, Co Waterford. Tiernan had faced a 10-year wait for dental treatment. Picture: Dan Linehan

This week, the national healthcare debate has centred on the distressing case of young Tiernan Murphy-Power. 

Featured on the front page of the Irish Examiner, the six-year-old boy with autism was facing a delay of over 10 years on the public waiting list for vital dental care under general anaesthetic. He has endured severe pain while awaiting necessary tooth extractions.