Greater reliance on the private sector for children’s dental healthcare will lead to fewer children being seen, the Irish Dental Association has predicted. 

According to the Irish Dental Association, only half of eligible second, fourth and sixth class students received dental screenings last year. 

In some parts of the country, this figure dropped to only one third. 

Everyone agrees that radical action is needed but the association and Government are at loggerheads on what is required. 

The Department of Health is considering diverting some of children’s dental care to private clinics - something the Irish Dental Association thinks would be a mistake. 

On Lunchtime Live, spokesperson Caroline Robbins explained why she feels it would be a mistake. 

 “The Government and the HSE are talking about landing another group of children into the private sector - which is already overflowing,” she said. 

“It’s at capacity; anyone who is listening there who is a medical card holder will know too well how hard it is to get an appointment - even a private patient.

“It’s overflowing and they simply want to come and add another cohort?

“No one is disagreeing with the fact that looking after children is incredibly important - they deserve to be looked after - but it is at capacity.” 

Dr Robbins added that if the public dental service had the funds, it has the knowledge and skills to be an “excellent scheme”. 

“Every single child in Ireland will get an appointment sent to them,” she said. 

“It’s offered to everybody, whereas if you put it into private practice, you’re at the mercy and reliance on whether the parents will bring them. 

“So, children are going to fall through the cracks and the problem is going to get worse. 

“And the first fire is going to get bigger.”

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