Thousands of children are missing out on vital dental screening due to staff shortages in the public health system, raising alarms over untreated tooth decay and its long-term impact on children’s health.
Tens of thousands of primary school children across Ireland are now being screened for dental issues much later than intended—some not until their final year of primary school or even secondary school—because of an acute shortage of dentists within the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Under the national oral health policy, children are supposed to receive free dental checks in second, fourth, and sixth class. However, in many regions, only sixth class students are receiving any screening at all. In other areas, even that service is not being consistently provided, according to parents, dental health experts, and advocacy groups.
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has warned that the delay in routine screenings is resulting in preventable cases of tooth decay going untreated. Many children end up requiring emergency dental procedures, including extractions, that could have been avoided with earlier intervention.
“This is a serious public health issue,” said Dr. Caroline Robbins, a spokesperson for the IDA. “We are seeing children with abscesses, pain, and advanced decay—conditions that should have been picked up much earlier through routine dental screenings.”
Staffing Crisis in Public Dental Services
At the heart of the issue is a chronic shortage of public service dentists. According to recent figures, the number of HSE dentists has fallen by over 20% in the last decade. Many dentists have left the public sector due to burnout, poor working conditions, and recruitment difficulties, leaving children—particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged areas—without adequate access to care.
“There simply aren’t enough dentists to meet the needs of the school screening program,” a senior HSE dental officer admitted anonymously. “We’re being forced to triage, and that means many children are slipping through the cracks.”
In counties such as Mayo, Donegal, and parts of Cork, waiting times for HSE dental appointments have stretched beyond a year. In Dublin and surrounding areas, parents have reported receiving letters indicating that screenings will be delayed indefinitely.
The Consequences of Delayed Care
Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, yet it is largely preventable. If untreated, it can lead to pain, infection, missed school days, and problems with eating and speaking. Oral health issues in childhood can also have lifelong consequences, affecting confidence, employment opportunities, and overall well-being.
Children from lower-income households are especially at risk, as they are less likely to have access to private dental care when public services fall short.
“We’ve had parents in tears because their child is in pain and there’s simply no one available to help them through the public system,” said Mary O’Donnell, a community health worker in Limerick. “The gap between policy and reality is growing wider every year.”
Government Response and Calls for Reform
The Department of Health has acknowledged the growing strain on public dental services and has pledged to reform the school screening program under the Smile agus Sláinte national oral health policy. The plan includes a shift toward providing care through primary care centres and private providers, but implementation has been slow.
In a statement, a department spokesperson said, “We recognise the importance of early dental screening for children and are committed to improving access. Recruitment of dental professionals and development of new service delivery models are underway.”
However, critics argue that without urgent investment and faster implementation, more children will continue to suffer needlessly.
The IDA has called for immediate action, including increased funding, enhanced recruitment strategies, and incentives to retain dentists in the public sector. “We’re facing a dental care crisis that affects our most vulnerable citizens—our children,” Dr. Robbins emphasized. “If we don’t act now, the cost—both financial and human—will be far greater down the line.”
Parents Left in the Dark
Many parents have voiced frustration over the lack of communication from schools and the HSE regarding delayed screenings.
“I kept expecting a note from the school or the HSE telling me when my daughter would be seen, but nothing came,” said Orla Kenny, a mother in Galway. “It was only when she started complaining about tooth pain that we realised she’d never been checked at all.”
Kenny eventually paid out of pocket for a private dentist, but says many families she knows cannot afford to do the same.