David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We need to get to the exact figure because we were quoted a much lower figure by the Department and the HSE when they were before us last week. We need an accurate figure from them on the number of dentists signed up to the contract and how many are active. That would be important information to have.

We have a shortfall in funding, dentists who are leaving in unprecedented numbers, medical card holders who are not getting access to the service they need as a result, and no pathway to more serious treatment. When comparing the treatment available from 2010 onwards to what was available prior to that, it strikes me that we have almost abandoned prevention. Scale and polish and extended gum cleaning have done suspended. Root canal treatment, dentures and denture repairs are done in emergency circumstances only and the number of extractions is unlimited, which does not make sense.

We are telling medical card holders that we will not put preventative resources in place and give them an opportunity to go to a dentist to prevent them from getting to a point at which they need an extraction, but if that point is reached, we will happily remove the tooth, which is hardly good oral health.

Am I correct on that? Have the association highlighted that with the Department?