The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides dental care free of charge to medical card holders aged 16 and over. These services are provided by independent dental practitioners who have a contract with the HSE. While the interruption to services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to some delays in the provision of non-emergency care, activity levels in the DTSS have been increasing and by December 2020 had reached almost 90% of activity levels recorded prior to the pandemic.
Dental services are not subject to Level 5 restrictions and my officials are working with their counterparts in the HSE to ensure that there is minimal disruption to the provision of services to medical card holders. In the event that eligible persons might experience difficulties in obtaining a service from their previous providers, the HSE will assist them in accessing alternative providers. In the circumstances the need for some type of central dental practice does not arise.
Services available annually to medical card holders, without prior approval of the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon, include an examination, two fillings and emergency extractions. Other more complex care is also provided some of which requires prior approval of the Principal Dental Surgeon. Patients with special needs and high risk patients can avail of a broader range of treatments including a scale and polish on approval of the Principal Dental Surgeon.
