Jim Mitchell
Question:46 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that health boards are complying with the legal obligation to provide an adequate dental service to the community.
Written Answers. - Dental Services.
In accordance with the Health Act, 1970 the health boards provide dental services to children, medical card holders and their dependants and I am satisfied that the boards are complying with their legal obligation.
About 1.7 million people are eligible for these services which are provided by salaried dentists and associated staff employed by the health boards. The current level of funding for dental services is of the order of £20 million. Special additional funds for the development of orthodontic and adult services was made available over the past few years. In 1993 a further £2 million has been made available by the Government to continue the development of the health board dental services as the first phase of commitments under the Programme for a Partnership Government.
The following outlines the range and scope of dental services provided by health boards.
A Preventative Services
(1) Fluoridation of public water supplies.
(2) Alternative fluoride supplementation for the population residing outside of fluoridated public water supplies.
(3) The provision of dental health education in schools.
(4) A fissure sealing programme for susceptible teeth as a preventive strategy against dental decay.
B Treatment services
(1) Children's dental services
The dental treatment resources of the health boards are prioritised into the provision of primary care dental services for national school children. Organised dental care is available to this group in all areas throughout the country. Areas have adopted a planned structured approach by targeting the services at selected classes within schools.
Under existing programmes about 275,000 children are screened annually and 250,000 children receive treatment.
(2) Orthodontic Services
Because of the high cost of secondary care, (i.e. specialist, orthodontic treatment health boards operate guidelines issued by the Department to ensure that the resources are used to best advantage and for those most severely affected/handicapped.
Cases requiring attention have been categorised in accordance with the Department's guidelines depending on the severity of their condition. In total the current level of services in health boards provides orthodontic treatment for approx 16,000 cases per annum.
(3) Adult Dental Service
Dental services to eligible adults are provide by health boards through their own dental staff and/or through private dental practitioners.
It is estimated that the current overall level of service provides treatment for approx 36,500 adults per annum.