Dental care remains an essential service as designated by the Government and therefore dental clinics will remain open to provide care during the current Level 5 restrictions. Patients and staff are entitled to travel more than 5km from home to see the dentist / attend for duty.

‘Oral health is an essential part of a person’s overall health’. IDA launches pre-Budget submission today (Monday). 22% fall in dentists providing medical card treatment over five years, affecting 300,000 patients. Up to 40% of public service dentists redeployed for testing and contact tracing for Covid-19 – and not replaced.

Kilkenny native Dr. Anne O’Neill has been appointed as the Irish Dental Association (IDA) President, following the Association’s AGM today. Dr. O’Neill is Assistant National Oral Health Lead in the HSE’s National Oral Health Office, working in the areas of Dental ICT, Epidemiology and Dental Public Health.