The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has described it as ‘totally unacceptable' that by the end of last year, more than 17,600 children were waiting to have orthodontic treatment.

Of these, over 2,500 had been waiting for at least three years.

The figures were provided to Fianna Fail's health spokesperson, Billy Kelleher, by Junior Health Minister, Kathleen Lynch, according to the Irish Times. They revealed that 17,601 children were waiting for orthodontic treatment at the end of 2014 compared to 15,697 at the end of 2013 - an increase of 12%.

Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with irregularities in the teeth and jaws, such as crooked teeth, crowded teeth and an overbite. The most common orthodontic treatment is braces.

The HSE provides free orthodontic treatment to children with the most severe orthodontic problems. If the problem is considered cosmetic, or the patient does not want to be left waiting, they will have to pay privately, however orthodontic treatment can be very expensive.

Responding to these figures, IDA chief executive, Fintan Hourihan, insisted that they are ‘just one manifestation of the shortcomings in our dental health system'. This, he said, was due to cuts in State funding and staff shortages caused by the HSE's recruitment embargo.

"In addition to the delays highlighted in the Minister's response to Deputy Kelleher, we have huge delays for children requiring treatment under general anaesthesia across the country, as well as huge cuts in general dental treatment and screening of children and special care patients, plus ongoing annual cuts of €100 million in State funding of dental care for medical card patients and those paying PRSI," he pointed out.

He added that prior to the last election, promises about dental services were made but ‘this Government has done nothing to date to address these issues beyond making more promises'.