Data also shows, from 2009 to 2015, the number of extractions of teeth among medical card patients increased, while cleanings and fillings fell. And, according to a study at St James’s hospital in Dublin, there was a 38 per cent increase in patients admitted for severe infections caused by dental decay, after the State dental supports were cut.

Following the economic collapse in 2009, entitlements to treatment, under the PRSI Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme, were severely cut. Workers had been entitled to a free check-up and cleaning, as well as subsidised gum cleaning, fillings, extractions, root canal treatments, X-rays and denture work. After the 2009 budget, only the free examination was retained and workers were required to pay for the cost of all other treatments.

In 2010, the medical card Dental Treatment Services Scheme was also cut back. Entitlements to cleaning, gum cleaning and X-rays were suspended, root canal treatment could only be performed on an emergency basis and only on front teeth, denture work was only allowed on an emergency basis and people could only have two fillings per year. But extractions, the cheapest of dental pain remedies, could still be performed on an unlimited basis.

Since then, data on medical card dental patients shows extractions have increased by 15 per cent, from more than 108,000 in 2009 to almost 124,600 in 2016. And surgical extractions have increased by 40 per cent, from just over 37,200 to more than 52,000.

Prevent gum disease

The number of fillings carried out for medical card patients dropped by 37 per cent, from more than 604,000 to almost 380,000. And cleaning, which is essential to help prevent gum disease, fell by 96 per cent, from 255,000 treatments in 2009 to almost 10,100 in 2016.

Spending on the PRSI scheme fell from €55.7 million in 2009 to €10.5 million in 2016. It is expected to increase to €15.4 million this year because benefits under the scheme were extended to self-employed people for the first time, but none of the old dental treatments have been reinstated.

There is no information available on what treatments workers are now paying for, but according to data from the Central Statistics Office, households have dramatically decreased their spending on dental treatment, from an average of €197 in 2010 to €84.53 in 2015.

Results from a study, published in 2015, which looked at patients admitted to St James’s Hospital in Dublin with serious dentofacial infections caused by decayed teeth, showed a 38 per cent increase in numbers after the changes to State supplement schemes.

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The call follows the death of 26 year old Vadim Kondratyuk Anatoliyevich, a father of two from California, who passed away after a dental infection spread to his lungs.

While deaths from dental infection are thankfully rare, this tragedy underlines the fact that  untreated tooth and gum infections can lead to other health complications and even fatal consequences. Prevention is key. Don’t ignore an abscess, gum infection, swelling or dental injury and be sure to visit your dentist promptly if you have a concern.

A study from 2015 showed there had been a 38% increase in the number of patients admitted to Irish hospitals with severe dental infections.

There is no doubt that the swingeing cuts which were made to the medical card and PRSI dental schemes as well as the Public Dental Service are responsible for this massive increase. These cuts have removed preventive treatments, putting patients at risk from dental disease with potential risks to their general health. At present antibiotics are often prescribed in the absence of the availability of effective treatment.

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Dr Anne O’Connell, Consultant In Paediatric Dentistry and Director of the Trauma Clinic at Dublin Dental University Hospital, highlighted the fact that one  in five Irish children and adolescents is affected by dental trauma.

Speaking at the HSE Dentists annual seminar in Athlone, Dr O’Connell said prevention is the key priority.

“A good fitting mouth guard will cover all the teeth onto the gum and should not drop when speaking.  Unfortunately too many children here are using ill fitting mouth guards. For example many of the ‘boil and bite’ type are not being heated appropriately and are failing to cover the teeth or are loose. Clearly this compromises their ability to offer effective protection.”

Dr O’Connell pointed out that dental trauma doesn’t just happen in organised sports.

“In Ireland one in four pre-schoolers has a dental trauma and children who have had an injury or who have prominent teeth may also need to wear mouth guards depending on the organised activity. It’s also important that toddlers who have had a dental trauma are assessed on an ongoing basis as their permanent teeth may be affected”

It’s estimated that the cost of treating dental trauma injuries amongst children in Ireland is between €8 to €20m.

“This is an important public health issue and that is why Dublin Dental University Hospital is currently conducting a study trying to estimate how much it costs to treat traumatic injuries to permanent teeth in children. As well as the basic financial cost,  there are often psychological issues, lost school days and time off work for parents.”

“The sporting bodies such as rugby, hockey and GAA all deserve praise for making ‘no mouth guard, no play’ mandatory policy. Children who are very active in other sports or who have already had trauma should also wear mouth guards. Parents need to play their part and ensure their children have effective dental protection” Dr O’Connell concluded.

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No Government or reputable scientific, medical or dental body anywhere in the world accepts, on any published evidence, that dental amalgam is a hazard to health.   Ireland is a signatory to the UN Minamata Convention which commits to reducing rather than abolishing the use of dental amalgam.

Dental research is ongoing in a wide variety of areas, including filling materials, in the search to provide the most up to date and safest treatments to the public at large.

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The Irish Dental Association say figures are an indictment of slash and burn oral health policy

Waiting times for young children with chronic dental infections are now up to 12 months

Shocking new figures indicate that up to 10,000 children under the age of 15 are being hospitalised for dental extractions under general anaesthetic every year in Ireland.

The Irish Dental Association has described the revelations as a national disgrace and an indictment of the slash and burn policy of the previous and current government to oral health policy.

The IDA, which has compiled the figures, says the rate of hospitalisations here could be up to five times higher than in the UK.

The IDA have said thousands of young children with chronic dental infection, many of whom require multiple extractions are waiting up to twelve months for treatment.

“Why are thousands of our young people undergoing the trauma of hospitalisation for multiple dental extractions? Ninety five per cent of these cases would have been avoidable if they had been detected and treated earlier. The reason they weren’t is because of Government cuts to family dental supports since 2010, the constant undermining of what had been a highly effective schools screening service and the fact that too many of our young people have a poor diet containing too much sugar” according to the IDA.

Five years ago when these cuts were introduced the IDA said they would cause unnecessary pain and suffering. It also said the true cost of the cutbacks would be a multiple of the very modest savings made on these once cost efficient and effective schemes.

The second question which needs to be addressed is why are young people with serious infections being forced to wait between 6 and 12 months for treatment. The HSE are urged to act before a tragedy occurred.

“The closure of the walk-in clinic in St James’s Hospital in Dublin means waiting lists for general anaesthetic services in Dublin, Wicklow and Kildare are 12 months. Waiting periods around the country are typically six to nine months. We know there are currently over 3,000 children awaiting general anaesthetic services and some of these have been waiting up to a year. The issue is compounded by the fact that dental cases are not included on hospital priority lists, and this results in theatre slots for dental cases being cancelled on a regular basis in favour of other paediatric cases.”

“So for example if  a child is waiting longer than six months to have an ear, nose or throat operation the hospital is penalised, but this doesn’t happen for dental patients. We are hearing stories of children having to be admitted for IV antibiotics for oral infection. Our concern is that general anaesthetic services for dentistry will not become a priority until a child has a serious outcome from dental infection. If a terrible situation like that is to be avoided the HSE needs to put dental cases on priority lists and put the appropriate number of staff in place.”

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Here is a list of suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year.

• Consume Halloween sweets and other sugary foods with meals.
• Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralise acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
• Avoid hard sweets and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time.
• Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, sweets that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
• Avoid sticky sweets that cling to your teeth.
• The stickier sweets, like toffee and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
• Drink more water.
• Consuming optimally fluoridated (tap) water can help prevent tooth decay.
• Maintain a healthy diet and make sure the meals you eat are nutritious.
• Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you “fill up” affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
• Avoid beverages with added sugar such as fizzy drinks, sports drinks or flavored waters.
• When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, first thing in the morning and at night.
• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won’t do a good job of cleaning your teeth.
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.
• Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
• Visit a dentist for more information on maintaining your oral health.

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The in-depth review was carried out by the Health Research Board, the lead agency in Ireland supporting and funding health research.

The HRB said that having examined the research available and excluding dental health it had found no definitive evidence that community water fluoridation is associated with positive or negative systemic health effects.

The review found no definitive evidence to link fluoridation to increased bone fractures, reduced IQ, cancer, heart disease, kidney disorders, Down Syndrome or increased mortality from all causes.

The HRB review follows fifteen major peer-reviewed studies of fluoridation undertaken across the world by recognised academic authorities in the past twenty years. None of these major reviews has concluded that community water fluoridation poses a known risk to general health.

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Many patients who are participating in sports are presenting with significant tooth decay and erosion in their teeth.

While most people engaging in sports or activities understand the importance of hydration and a healthy diet, many were not aware that a lot of the sports drinks and protein shakes which they consume have a very high sugar content.

People who are constantly taking little sips of sports drinks from a bottle are effectively bathing their teeth in sugar and giving their mouths no time to recover.

Consumers have to be clear about what they and their children are consuming. Sports drinks, protein shakes,energy drinks, energy bars and fruit juices can contain anything from five to a dozen teaspoons of sugar.

Protein/meal replacement bars can be very damaging due to the sticky nature of the honey or syrup which is often included. Dried fruit also has a very high concentration of sugar also.

Tooth decay is always caused by sugars such as sucrose, lactose, glucose, fructose.

A survey of athletes at the London Olympics in 2012 by a team from University College London which found that athletes as a group had worse dental health than other people of a similar age. Of the 302 athletes examined, from 25 sports, 55% had evidence of cavities, 45% had tooth erosion and 76% had gum disease. One in three said their oral health affected their quality of life and one in five said it affected training or athletic performance.

• Avoid sports drinks on a regular basis.
• If taking protein shakes or bars study the ingredients carefully and opt for those not containing sugar.
• Plain water is the ultimate thirst quencher while milk has also been found to be a very effective post workout drink.

For endurance sports if sugary fluid replacement is necessary try to drink through a straw. Brushing twice a day, using a mouthwash and going for regular dental check-ups will ensure you have good oral health.

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