More than 100,000 children were denied school screening dental appointments last year. 

Figures from the Irish Dental Association found there has been a 31 per cent reduction in schoolchildren seen by public-only HSE dentists in the past five years.

An extra 75 dentists are needed by the HSE to bring figures back to 2009 staffing levels and CEO Fintan Hourihan said some children are only seen once in primary school.

“This is a service that 30 years ago, the Government said we want children to be seen three times during their primary school days,” he said. 

“Now, in many parts of the country, it’s only once and it tends to be in sixth class when they could be 10 or 11-years-of-age - which is way too late. 

“This is a service that is intended to target and ensure that all children are seen.” 

A child at the dentist.

Mr Hourihan believes the only solution to the problem is for more dentists to be recruited to deal with the backlog and Ireland’s growing population. 

“Some of those [children who were seen] were actually in secondary school because they hadn’t been seen in primary school,” he said. 

“So, what that tells us is that at least 100,000 children were not provided with a dental appointment simply because the HSE doesn’t have enough dentists.” 

The Irish Dental Association's National Conference begins today.

Main image: A child at the dentist.