Alarming Dental Statistics Published In Ireland

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Oral health is a major area of concern in Ireland; recent statistics show that budget cuts have had a significant impact on standards of oral health and patient welfare.

According to recent surveys, there has been a 93 per cent increase in the number of tooth extractions procedures as a result of patients putting off routine examinations because they cannot afford to pay for them. The Health Service Executive announced budget cuts almost two years ago and it appears that they have resulted in a decline in standards of oral health.

Nine in ten dentists reported a decrease in patient attendance and up to a million people have postponed or delayed going to the dentist as a result of cost. 92 per cent of dentists claimed that they are seeing more patients with gum disease and 84 per cent said that there has been an increase in dental infections.

Almost 80 per cent of dentists also said that there has been an increase in the number of patients visiting them with tooth pain.

A large number of dentists believe that the state scheme is useless because it offers such a low level of cover. The survey, which was carried out by the Irish Dental Association, revealed that almost a third of people have put off having dental treatment because they cannot afford it.

Dr Peter Gannon, head of the IDA’s General Practice Group, Dr Peter Gannon, said that the findings of the survey were “alarming” and added that he feared that the country was returning to the days of “extractions and dentures.”

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