The Government has launched a new scheme offering children all around the country free dental checks and preventative treatments.
Under the new ‘Smile agus Sláinte’ package, all children under the age of 16 will receive eight oral healthcare packages – including examinations, assessments, advice, prevention interventions as well as emergency care and referral as appropriate.
The packages will also be offered to adult medical card holders with a particular focus on improved oral health services for all vulnerable groups, including people in nursing and residential homes
It comes as figures show 30% of Irish children aged five and six-years-old are suffering from dental decay.
Under the current system, children have no routine access to oral healthcare until they reach second class in school.
Smile agus Sláinte
Launching the new scheme, Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty said an overhaul of the dental system was needed.
“We know there have been gaps in what we have been delivering,” she said.
“Albeit what we have been delivering over the last few years has been effective, it probably has not been as effective proactively as we could be.
“The new policy is going to be really instrumental to make sure that we treat people and keep them healthy before they get to the emergency situation we have, particularly with our younger children, where they are usually only arriving to the dentist when they are in trouble.”
Primary care
The Government said the new oral health packages will be delivered in a primary care setting by oral healthcare practitioners contracted by the HSE.
The local dentist will be the first point-of-contact with the HSE community oral healthcare services providing additional high-support care as required.
The Health Minister Simon Harris said: “Smile agus Sláinte provides the groundwork to transform oral health services over the next eight years.
“It embraces the same ideals as Slaintecare with the needs of people at the core and the provision of services in the local community paramount.”
The Government aims to phase in the new policy between 2019 and 2026.
It said the ESRI has estimated the cost of the oral healthcare packages at around €80m.
