Did you catch our very own Dr. Abigail Moore on RTE Radio 1 this morning?
Abby joined David McCullagh on the Today show to discuss a startling headline in today’s Irish Independent: "Screening in ‘crisis’ due to dentist exodus."
The article highlights a worrying trend that we are seeing first-hand at Happy Teeth: a collapse in the public school screening system that is leaving thousands of children without essential dental care.
The Reality of the "Exodus"
According to the Irish Independent, the number of dentists operating under the medical card scheme has dropped dramatically, with fewer than 600 currently participating compared to 1,452 in 2012.
The impact on children is severe. In 2023, fewer than 104,000 children received school screenings, compared to 152,000 in 2018. As the Irish Dental Association warned today, school screening is vital for preventative care, but many children are now being seen only once, or not at all.
What Abby is Seeing on the Ground
During her interview, Abby explained to David McCullagh that while Happy Teeth traditionally sees children with specific needs - such as those with high anxiety, autism, or medical complexities - we are now seeing a new cohort of patients.
We are increasingly treating children who should be manageable in a general dental practice but have been forced into specialist care because their issues were not caught early enough.
"We’re typically seeing children between age 6 and 10 who the first time they're going to the dentist is because they have pain," Abby explained on air.
By the time these children reach us, they are often very unwell, stressed, and exhausted from lack of sleep due to pain. Some have even required hospital treatment for facial swellings.
The Heartbreak of Preventable Trauma
The most frustrating part of this crisis is that dental decay is, as Abby emphasised, "100% preventable."
In the past, school screenings in 2nd, 4th, and 6th class acted as a safety net. Problems were caught when cavities were small and manageable with a simple filling or sealant.
Now, without those early checks, we are seeing 7-year-olds requiring as many as six extractions. This kind of extensive treatment is traumatic for a young child and often necessitates sedation or general anesthetic-routes we always prefer to avoid unless absolutely necessary.
Moving Forward
As Abby noted during the broadcast, we are currently facing a situation where the public system simply cannot provide care to everyone due to shortages and funding issues.
While policymakers debate how to fix the "two-tier" system, our advice to parents is simple: Do not wait for the school dentist.
If your child has not had a check-up recently, please book a visit. Early prevention is the key to ensuring your child’s first dental experience is a happy one, not an emergency one.
You can listen back to Abby’s full interview on the RTE Radio 1 app or read the full article in today’s Irish Independent.