Between 2015 and 2018 expenditure on public dental services increased from €153m to €192m (ESRI, 2021). Dental services were reduced during the pandemic as access to dental services was restricted and some HSE staff were redeployed to testing and tracing as part of the HSE’s response to the pandemic. There has also been a reduction in the numbers of dentists participating in the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS), which provides dental services to medical card holders.
The reduction in the number of dentists holding a DTSS contract has resulted in some medical card holders, in some areas, experiencing a problem in accessing a service. In these instances, the local HSE services on the ground (i.e the HSE Public Dental Service) will assist any person who is experiencing such a problem. The needs of anybody in urgent need of care and unable to secure a service in private dental practices is being addressed through the HSE public dental service.
Officials in my Department and in the HSE have engaged with the Irish Dental Association with a view to addressing issues around the provision of services to medical card holders and that process of engagement is continuing. Additional funding of €10 million has been provided in Budget 2022, on top of a provision of €56 million for the Existing Level of Services.
The future approach to oral health service provision is being aligned with the goals and objectives of Smile agus Sláinte, the National Oral Health Policy (2019). The aim of the policy is to develop a model of care that will enable preventative approaches to be prioritised, improve access, and support interventions appropriate to current and future oral health needs.
