The Irish Dental Association highlights a dramatic decline in dentists, with numbers plummeting from 330 in 2006 to 253 in 2024, at a time when Ireland's population grew by almost 1 million.
Fintan Hourihan, Chief Executive of the Irish Dental Association, emphasizes the urgency for the government to act, stating, 'We are calling on the government to rebuild the Public Dental Service (PDS) with immediate effect to meet the needs of children and special care patients.'
The association warns that the existing delays in dental care have resulted in 104,000 schoolchildren missing out on essential dental screenings last year, indicating a critical gap in public dental provision.
Mr. Hourihan criticized the government's recruitment moratorium, asserting it reflects a 'low priority given to dentistry,' noting that while other health sectors have seen workforce increases, dentistry continues to suffer from severe staff shortages.
#public-dental-service #dentistry-shortage #healthcare-recruitment #childrens-health #irish-dental-association
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