Cork TD says we need more college spaces for student dentists

A quick and easy solution is possible to the shortage of dentists and orthodontists which would help curb long waiting lists, Cork North Central TD Colm Burke has said.

The Fine Gael TD was speaking to The Echo following the disclosure in this newspaper last week of waiting times of up to six years for some children in Cork and Kerry, who need orthodontic treatment for non-urgent conditions.

Mr Burke said that Ireland would have more qualified dentists and orthodontists if more places were made available to Irish students in UCC and Trinity College in Dublin where dentistry is being taught.

“In 2023, there were 61 final year dentistry students in UCC and 46 dentistry students in Trinity College Dublin,” he said. “This year, 36 final year students in UCC and 21 in Trinity were from non-EEA countries.

“Half of the places were allocated to non-EEA (European Economic Area) students.

“Due to the reliance on non-EEA students to cross-subsidise the funding of the dental schools, graduates from Irish dental schools have only made up about a third of those registering with the Dental Council for the last 15 years.

“If additional funding was provided to increase the number of places allocated to Irish students, we would see more dentists working in the Irish system, making it easier for people to access dental services and reducing waiting lists.” 

Mr Burke pointed out that while it took five years for a dentist to qualify, a few more years needed to be added to that to enable the qualification of orthodontists.

He said that the figures supplied by the Department of Health estimated there were 2,420 dentists practicing in Ireland at the end of 2022.

“This means 2,420 dentists per 5,149,139 population is 47 dentists per 100,000 or one dentist per 2,128 population,” he said. 

“We simply do not have enough dentists.” 

Mr Burke said that a survey by the Irish Dental Association had found that nearly two thirds of dental practices who had tried to recruit dentists up to May 2023 could not fill the vacancy.

“Due to this staffing issue, one quarter of dentists are currently not in a position to take on new private adult patients, while 59% said the shortage of dental staff is impacting on patient access and treatment in their practice.”