Oral health in crisis as over €400m in supports for dental care withdrawn.
IDA  calls for urgent meeting with Minister.

The Irish Dental Association has called for an urgent meeting with the new Minister for Health, Dr Leo Varadkar to discuss the ongoing crisis in oral health care.

The IDA says over €400m has been withdrawn in supports to adults towards the cost of their dental care over the last four years while there has been a 20% reduction in the number of dentists available to see and treat schoolchildren.

The Chief Executive of the Association, Fintan Hourihan says the single biggest obstacle to regular attendance with the dentist are the unprecedented cuts to State funded dental schemes and to the provision of care directly undertaken by the HSE.

“When the Government was elected they said they would reinstate the Medical Card Dental Scheme and review the PRSI Dental Scheme. To date neither has happened.

We also want to engage with the Minister on the need to fill critical vacancies in the Public Dental Service as well as the restoration of a number of services provided by dentists to children and special needs patients.

Dentists around the country are seriously concerned that we may be reaching a stage where irreparable damage is being done to many thousands of patients and we are extremely anxious to meet with the Minister to offer proposals on tackling this crisis”  Mr Hourihan said.

ENDS.

For Further Information

Contact Kieran Garry

Gordon MRM

01/6650455 or 087/2368366