Nine three-hour sessions are carried out each week in the dental clinic at Swords. In addition, the principal dental surgeon provides one session of orthodontic treatment every month.
The average waiting time for a course of routine dental treatment is two-and-a-half months but emergency treatment is available to persons who are in pain.
There are 702 persons on the orthodontic waiting list at present. This list is currently being reviewed by the Eastern Health Board.
Since November 1989, the Government has made special allocations of £1 million to the health boards to provide additional orthodontic treatment for top priority cases. This amount supplements the moneys already allocated by the health boards for orthodontic services.
The Department is closely monitoring progress being made in the current year to reduce the orthodontic waiting lists and will take further action if necessary. Four vacant posts of consultant orthodontist in the health board dental service, are being advertised with more attractive conditions of service. A fifth post, in the Eastern Health Board has already been advertised. In addition arrangements are in place to train a number of health board dental surgeons from the Eastern Health Board in advanced orthodontic techniques.