The Irish Dental Association today welcomes the publication and recommendations of ‘Behind Every Smile’, the Children’s Ombudsman report on the impact of the ongoing crisis in children’s public dental health services in Ireland.

The report finds that there are now over 11,000 children on public waiting lists for dental or orthodontic care, with 8,000 (73%) waiting longer than two years.

As continuously highlighted by the Association, more than 105,000 (50%) of primary-school children did not receive targeted dental screening in 2025. The report notes the State’s statutory obligation to provide these services to all children. Prevention should be at the heart of any effective oral healthcare system.

There are currently 1,450 children waiting for over one year to receive treatment under general anaesthetic. Many of these patients have additional needs and cannot receive vital care within a reasonable timeframe. This leaves children in pain, vulnerable to infection and at risk of complications in lifetime oral health outcomes.

Dr Bridget Harrington-Barry, Irish Dental Association President, said in response to the report’s publication:

“As we approach the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, we must ensure that every child in Ireland receives timely care and screenings. We believe that the Government must invest in the public dental workforce, following 15 years of significant cuts to state funded dental services.

“In my own clinic in University Hospital Galway, we have since last year ringfenced beds for paediatric special care patients, it has been highly successful in reducing waiting lists and avoiding the cancellation of vital procedures. This is an initiative we would like to see rolled out across the country.

“We welcome the recommendations of this report, particularly in strengthening data collection, bolstering school dental screening and providing additional funding to combat waiting lists. It is now well established that poor oral health outcomes can have serious impacts on the lifetime overall health outcomes of our patients.

“We look forward to engaging with government on these issues in the coming weeks, as we seek an oral health policy framework which best serves the children of Ireland.”

Read full report here:  16580_OCO_Behind Every Smile report_V7