New Irish oral health policy will provide free treatment for children and focus on preventative care
A new oral health policy, which was launched by Ireland’s Department of Health on Wednesday 3rd April will provide free dental care for children up to the age of 16 and focus on preventative measures.
Under new guidelines, which are expected to cost around 80 million euros per year, health ministers are planning to offer free dental care for under 16’s and to move from a ‘diagnose and treat’ approach to a preventative focus. Proposals include plans for children under the age of 16 to receive 8 free oral health bundles, which will include routine checks, emergency dental treatment and dental assessments. There will also be further packages provided for medical card holders aged over 16.
The plans aim to target around 1.1 million children and 1.3 medical card holders across the country.
In addition to services that are already provided for young patients and medical card holders, there are new options to be included in improved oral health packages, including fissure sealant treatment for children.
The Department of Health is said to have released details of the new oral health policy without consulting dentists, and news of the new guidelines has been met with a level of scepticism by the Irish Dental Association. A spokesperson said that the new policy, which is named Smile agus Slainte, would be judged based on the results it delivers, rather than what it promises.
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