A mother has said her son was not given a single free dental appointment during his time in primary school. 

In theory, children are entitled to free dental appointments while in 2nd, 4th, and 6th class of primary school. Children with special needs are entitled to additional free appointments. 

However, a shortage of dentists means that children have missed out on an estimated 360,000 free appointments over the last five years. 

On Lunchtime Live, Cork resident Deirdre said her son has not received a single free dental appointment. 

“We have never been called,” she said. 

“He's just finished primary school, he's 13-years-old and he has never ever been called, not even once.”

The family lives in Ballincollig - just outside of Cork City - and Deirdre said her son is not the only child she knows who has missed out. 

“They would have been due their first appointment, it was kind of during COVID times, so they missed that,” she said. 

“But then his age group have never been called again after that.”

Deirdre added that it is “quite difficult” getting him a private appointment.

“I managed to get my dentist to take him on, but I had the dentist already,” she explained. 

“I know a lot of people that would have moved to the area and wouldn't have had a dentist themselves previously, they can't seem to get any dentist to even take them on as patients.”

Fianna Fáil senator Dee Ryan has called for the families of children who miss out on free dental checks to be given a €200 tax credit.

Main image: A child at the dentist. Picture by: Igor Kardasov / Alamy.