Limited free treatments available
THE Health Service Executive (HSE) provides some free dental treatment to certain citizens through the public health service.
Services are provided by dentists employed by Local Health Offices in your area and by private dentists who have contracts with the HSE to provide certain services.
If you do not qualify for HSE services, then you may be treated by a private dental practitioner.
Dentists must display private fees in a place where patients can view them before consultation. A single fee must apply for some procedures while the fees for others may be shown as a range, with a minimum and maximum clearly stated. Where a range of fees applies, it is not permitted to set a minimum price only.
Treatment Benefit Scheme
You may get free dental examinations under the Treatment Benefit scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection.
The Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) provides access to dental treatment for adult medical card holders (over 16 years of age). Medical card holders are entitled to a free dental examination and two fillings in each calendar year as well as any extractions that are required. Free emergency dental treatment for relief of pain and sepsis is also available.
For most other treatments, including dentures, the dentist must apply for prior approval from the HSE. Patients with special needs, high risk patients and those who have greater clinical needs receive priority.
The DTSS provides treatment for periodontal/ gum disease in cases where care is especially warranted. This includes clients who are pregnant, have diabetes or immuno-compromising conditions, or require relevant surgical procedures such as cardiac surgery and joint replacements.
Approval for periodontal treatment may be given by the local Principal Dental Surgeon for these and other high risk or special needs groups.
Orthodontic treatment
The HSE provides free orthodontic treatment for those patients with the most severe orthodontic problems.
The criteria used to decide whether a child qualifies for treatment in the HSE is determined by eligibility guidelines based on an international grading system called the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need.
HSE dental surgeons are trained in the guidelines for eligibility and so can advise and refer you to the local HSE orthodontic unit for assessment if the problem is sufficiently severe. The types of orthodontic problems that qualify under the guidelines include front teeth that are buried and fail to emerge, multiple missing teeth, very prominent front teeth or severe problems with the bite or jaw development.
Taxation and dental expenses
If you do not have a medical card and have to pay for dental services from a private practitioner, you may claim tax relief for certain specialised dental treatments. (Routine treatments such as extractions, scaling and filling of teeth and provision and repairing of artificial teeth and dentures are excluded from tax relief ).