Over 100K Irish Children Denied School Dental Screenings

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IRELAND: Recent data from the Irish Dental Association (IDA) reveals that over 100,000 children were denied school screening dental appointments in 2023. This stark reality comes amidst concerns over the adequacy of resources and access to dental care for schoolchildren across Ireland.

Resource Shortages Lead to Backlog

Despite Government policy recommending dental screenings for primary school children in second, fourth, and sixth classes, only 50% of eligible schoolchildren were screened by dentists last year. 

With 208,233 children eligible for the scheme in 2023, a mere 104,488 were assessed, creating a concerning backlog in children awaiting their first dental appointment. This shortage of public dentists has exacerbated the issue, leading to delays in screenings and treatment.

The decline in dental screenings is evident over the past five years, with a notable reduction from over 151,392 schoolchildren assessed in 2019 to only 104,488 in 2023. This represents a 31% reduction despite a 7.3% increase in the population. Additionally, the number of dentists working within the public service has dropped by 24% since 2006, further exacerbating the strain on dental services.

Calls for Government Intervention

CEO of the IDA, Fintan Hourihan, expressed concern over the failure of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to meet its duty in providing adequate dental care to patients. Hourihan emphasized the significant impact of denied appointments on over 50% of schoolchildren, highlighting a 31% increase in lost appointments since 2019. 

The IDA urges the government to address this issue urgently by allocating additional resources to recruit 75 extra whole-time equivalent dentists, aiming to restore staffing levels to those of 2009.