Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the orthodontic waiting list in County Laois. [42952/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need are provided with treatment by the HSE. Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region. The most recent information on waiting lists relates to the third quarter of 2014. In the Dublin Mid Leinster region, which includes Co. Laois, there were 1,861 on the assessment waiting list and 4,531 on the treatment waiting list.