The Irish Dental Association is calling for significant increases in oral health funding in order to support positive ongoing oral health reforms by the Department of Health. This follows a €800 million cut in state spending on dental care for PRSI and Medical Card patients between 2009 and 2023.

This €800 million deficit in funding represents a lost decade in dental care, which has compounded negative health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.

In addition, 104,000 eligible schoolchildren in Ireland were denied dental screening appointments by the HSE dental service in 2023 due to a shortage of public-only dentists employed by the HSE. This represents roughly half of the eligible cohort denied vital dental appointments.

Under the current system, there is a widening gap between those who can afford to access dentistry by private means and those who are left at the mercy of a public system which is underfunded and not fit for purpose.

The new Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has demonstrated a welcome commitment to reform of the oral healthcare system. The Irish Dental Association believes that significant extra  funding is needed to realise the full potential of the National Oral Health Policy - Smile agus Sláinte - and to ensure that a successor to the Dental Treatment Service Scheme for medical card patients is fit for purpose.

Dr. Will Rymer, President of the Irish Dental Association stated; “Oral health is a vital indicator of the overall health and wellbeing of the general population. We are calling on the Government to fully fund oral health services in order to make up for a lost decade in dental care, representing a running deficit of €800 million in investment.

“The failure of consecutive Governments to fully fund oral healthcare services has only increased the outstanding burden of treatment needed across the country.

“We will not accept a system that fails to adequately address the needs of our patients. As an Association, we will continue to push for a modern, sustainable model of dental car - one that values prevention as much as treatment and one that is accessible to all, including those marginalised in our society.

"As the Smile agus Sláintecare implementation plan is being finalised, we must ensure that it is backed by necessary funding from the Department of Finance”

Overall, there are currently 800 fewer dentists on the Dental Treatment Services Scheme in comparison to 2012, this is despite a population growth of over 15% in Ireland.