The population of Ireland has increased by nearly 1m people from 2006 to 2024, yet the number of dentists in the public dental service has fallen significantly, highlighting a critical healthcare gap.
Fintan Hourihan of the Irish Dental Association emphasized the urgent need to recruit 120 additional dentists, noting the substantial impact of a dwindling workforce on children's dental services.
The decline in the number of dentists in the Public Dental Service from 330 to 253 reflects a low prioritization of dental health in comparison to other healthcare roles within the HSE.
Fears of suppressed HSE posts have resulted in lost dental screenings for over 104,000 schoolchildren last year, illustrating a pressing need for government intervention in public dental care.
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