Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Minister for Health if he has been requested to establish a process to roll out the delivery of orthodontic therapy in accordance with best international practice, in order to reduce the waiting lists for children waiting for orthodontic treatment; if he will provide details of all meetings that officials of his Department have held with the Dental Council and dental colleges in this area; if the Dental Council has offered an opinion to him on the introduction of dental therapists; if the Dental Council has signalled its intent to support a modernised system; if he will provide details of correspondence to and from the Dental Council on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49631/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The Dental Council created a Scheme in 2002 establishing orthodontic therapists as a class of auxiliary dental worker. To date there has been no registerable training programme approved in Ireland for orthodontic therapists. I understand that the Dental Council is completing its consideration of an application by Dublin Dental School and Hospital, Trinity College to accredit such a programme. My Department has not been involved in discussions with either the dental schools or the Dental Council on this issue.

An independent review of orthodontic services, commissioned by the HSE, is near completion. The outcome of this review will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best possible model of care delivery, given the current resources available and future demand for services. The HSE may also consider local initiatives which may involve the use of orthodontic therapists.

The Dental Council has offered no opinion to the Department of Health on the introduction of the grade of dental therapist. In other jurisdictions, they would typically work in remote and isolated areas where there may not be access to a dentist. Such independent practice is not permitted under the terms of the Dentists Act 1985, which is currently under review. The Dental Council has not entered into correspondence with the Department of Health on this matter.