Dentists are seeking an urgent meeting with new Health Minister, Leo Varadkar, to discuss the ‘ongoing crisis in oral healthcare'.

According to the Irish Dental Association (IDA), over the last four years, more than €400 million has been withdrawn in supports towards the cost of dental care among adults.

This is due to the decision to end free routine dental care for medical card patients and to abolish the Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme, which allowed patients who made PRSI contributions to avail of free or subsidised dental treatment.

Furthermore, the number of dentists available to treat school children has been reduced by 20%.

"When the Government was elected they said they would reinstate the Medical Card Dental Scheme and review the PRSI Dental Scheme. To date neither has happened. We also want to engage with the Minister on the need to fill critical vacancies in the Public Dental Service, as well as the restoration of a number of services provided by dentists to children and special needs patients," commented IDA chief executive, Fintan Hourihan.

He said that dentists nationwide now fear they are reaching a stage ‘where irreparable damage is being done to many thousands of patients'.

"We are extremely anxious to meet with the Minister to offer proposals on tackling this crisis."