New figures reveal massive decline in dental treatments provided to medical card patients

New figures reveal massive decline in dental treatments provided to medical card patients

(12 May 2011)

The Irish Dental Association has described the decline in dental treatments being provided under the Medical Card Scheme (DTSS) as alarming.

New figures from the HSE show that the number of above the line treatments provided in the first two months of the year such as cleanings, fillings, extractions, gum treatments etc are down 40% on the same period last year - from 227,325 treatments to 137,004.

The figures for more complex below the line treatments such as root canal work, providing or repairing denture etc are down by a massive 69% - from 22,250 to 6,944. The figures were released to over 600 delegates on the first day of the IDA's annual conference, which is taking place in Cavan.

Vice-President Elect of the IDA, Dr Andrew Bolas said the fall off in treatments showed it was imperative the new Government re-instate the Medical Card Scheme in full as promised in the Programme for Government.

"The HSE figures for above the line treatments show the state funded 90,000 less treatments to Medical Card patients in the first two months of the year alone. That's equivalent to 540,000 less treatments in a full year. Our fear is that hundreds of thousands of people are no longer receiving appropriate dental care. This has very serious implications for the dental heath of the nation and indeed will lead to significant expenditure in the future as patients will require more extensive and expensive treatment" Bolas said.

The new Government promised to reinstate the Medical Card Scheme and to review the PRSI Dental Scheme and the IDA is calling on the Minister for Health to deliver on these promises as a matter of urgency.

"The new Government also promised to fill the vacant post of Chief Dental Officer as soon as possible. It beggars belief that this country has not had a Chief Dental Officer for almost a decade" Bolas said.

The IDA also pointed out how the moratorium imposed on the HSE by the Department of Finance is affecting the dental care of our young people.

Dr Bolas said the HSE's dental departments, which primarily look after those under 16 and those with special needs, cannot, due to under-staffing, carry out necessary checks on school children and those with special needs.

"In an ideal, fully staffed service, children in national schools are screened three times usually in 1st, 4th and 6th classes. With the staffing shortages created by the moratorium, many areas only have the resources to screen one class and can only provide emergency treatment to the rest of the children in their area. For those with special needs, the situation is even worse as the moratorium is preventing many areas from having a senior dentist, trained in dealing with the dental problems these clients present with" Dr Bolas said.

Dr Bolas believes the moratorium is a short sighted measure which will lead to undue pain and frustration for our children. "While the moratorium might save a few euros right now, the problem is, in a few years how much will it cost - in human and financial terms - to put right all the missed opportunities we have at present" Dr Bolas concluded.