Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health if the Dental Council has begun the process of provision of dental therapists in order to try to reduce the orthodontic waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7521/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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Dental therapists are independent practitioners. In other jurisdictions, they would typically work in remote and isolated areas where there may not be access to a dentist. They have a broad scope of practice which includes restorations, periodontal treatment, oral hygiene treatment and extractions of deciduous teeth. Such independent practice is not permitted under the terms of the Dentists Act 1985. Accordingly, the Dental Council has not created a scheme establishing dental therapists as a class of auxiliary dental worker.

The Council created a Scheme in 2002 establishing orthodontic therapists as a class of auxiliary dental worker. They would typically work in orthodontic practices under the supervision of an orthodontist. To date there has been no registerable training programme approved in Ireland for orthodontic therapists. The Council has recently put in place a mechanism whereby dental nurses can undertake a UK qualification while doing their clinical training under the clinical supervision of Irish based orthodontists. There are currently 4 registered orthodontic therapists in Ireland and up to 10 others in training or undergoing adaptation placements. A HSE review of orthodontic services is underway. The outcome of this review will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best model of care delivery, given current resources and expected future demand for services. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of the 2nd Quarter of 2013.