The Irish Dental Association (IDA) is accusing the government of ignoring the 'effective collapse of the profession' due to COVID-19.
The association - which represents around 2,000 private and public dentists here - claims recent representations it has made to the Ministers for Health and Finance about the crisis facing the profession haven't been answered.
According to the IDA, dentists' incomes are down by an average of over 90% as routine dentist appointments can't take place at the moment.
They're also raising concerns about the availability of PPE (personal protective equipment) for emergency care.
IDA Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan says dentists need urgent help from the government, and that he can't "overstate the sense of despair and panic" in the profession at the moment.
He said: "During the pandemic, routine dentistry has been forbidden.
"Emergency care can be provided, but this requires protective equipment which is in short supply and is very expensive.
"Dentists are continuing to do their best... but there's a huge fall off in dental attendance.
"There's a financial catastrophe facing dentistry right now, and we are begging for support from the State."
The association is calling for a number of measures to be introduced - including providing financial support for PPE, an advance in payments provided under State schemes such as the medical card and PRSI, and a moratorium on VAT payments.
