Published: Wednesday, 21st July, 2010 5:10pm

Dental cuts 'an assault on the least well-off'

by Adrian Cusack

Cutbacks having a serious impact according to local dentists

Cuts to the dental services being provided under the medical card scheme are currently having a serious impact on patients and dentists, according to practitioners in the Midlands.

In April, the HSE announced it was restricting dental coverage under the medical card scheme to emergency treatment only.

And last week the Irish Dental Association (IDA) said that the scheme to fund treatment for medical card patients has already exhausted €59m of its annual allocation of €63m.

"It's a major problem - the system seems to have run out of money," said a dentist in the Athlone area, who asked not to be named.

"The HSE was unclear in its instructions regarding what would and would not be covered through the medical card. They have been clamping down on dentures, and things like that, and a lot of elderly people are in a bad way over it.

"It's basically an assault on the least well-off. Dentistry is seen as a relatively easy target and people often don't kick up a fuss over it because they don't want to go to the dentist anyway," he said.

Health Minister Mary Harney stated recently that a number of treatments which had previously been available under the medical card scheme, such as dental cleaning and polishing, had been suspended.

She said some treatments, including oral examinations and fillings, would continue to be provided but would be "limited in number or frequency." Other treatments, such as protracted periodontal treatments or denture repairs would be available "only in the case of clinical emergencies," according to the Minister.

The Minister stated that whether or not a case represented an emergency would be "determined by the treating clinician, the contracted General Dental Practitioner, in agreement with the local HSE Principal Dental Surgeon, or a delegate who is also a clinician."

John O'Mahony, who operates a dental practice in Tullamore, believed these cutbacks were having a major impact in the Midlands because it had "a higher percentage of medical card holders than in other parts of the country."

He added: "I started in dentistry in Ireland in 1973 and unfortunately the dental service that we're now providing in this country is worse - more restrictive - than it was then."

Mr O'Mahony predicted that most dentists in the Midlands would see their incomes fall by up to 50% this year, and that the combined decrease in their incomes in 2009 and this year would be in the region of 60 to 70%.

He stated that this would have a particularly devastating impact on younger dentists with mortgages. "Overall it's a very frustrating and unsatisfactory situation. I don't know where it's going to end, but I'm not hopeful," he said.

Last week, the Irish Dental Association (IDA) told a Dáil committee that the HSE's medical card restrictions had caused "chaos, confusion and hardship" to 1.6 million dental patients throughout the country.

The IDA reported instances of treatment being denied to cancer patients, special needs patients, elderly patients, patients requiring dental checks ahead of major operations, and others.

However its CEO, Fintan Hourihan, said patients should continue to visit their dentist.

"It is important that people continue to visit their dentist either for routine check-ups or if they are experiencing pain or discomfort," said Mr Hourihan.

"Regular dental examinations can detect health issues and inform patients of any urgent dental treatment they may require. The imposed cuts by the HSE means that patients are anxious and unsure about whether or not they are covered under the Medical Card Scheme. We would advise patients to contact their local dentist if they have any concerns."

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