Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health his views on the Irish Dental Association concerns regarding cutbacks in the National Dental Treatment Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25955/12]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders. Patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs, including patients with diabetes and/or a heart condition, receive priority for treatment.

A free oral examination every calendar year and free emergency dental treatment with a focus on relief of pain and sepsis are available to all eligible patients, regardless of their medical condition. This includes 2 fillings, all extractions and a number of complex treatments. The National Oral Health Office of the HSE issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to dental contractors in November 2011 to support equitable and priority funding and provide clearer guidance to dentists on the application of DTSS prior approval requests. The Procedures confirm that high risk patients are to be prioritised for approval. They receive all DTSS services that were available prior to April 2010 which includes all fillings as required and approval for complex care including root canal treatment, gum treatment and dentures. Examples of recent increases in the number of treatments (year to date) which indicate that people are not neglecting their dental health and are gaining access to services are as follows: Oral examinations April 2011 -101,457; April 2012- 133,859; Restorations(fillings)April 2011 - 109,207; April 2012 - 134,671; Prosthetics(dentures) April 2011 - 8,430 ;April 2012 - 12,229; Denture repairs April 2011- 7,666; April 2012 - 9,385.