The public dental service provides oral health care for patients eligible for dental services with the HSE.
A preventative evidence based approach is the fundamental and distinctive character of the public dental service.
Patients eligible for public dental services include all children up to 16 years of age (including preschool, primary school, and post primary children) and eligible adults.
Oral health services are provided to children and adults with special healthcare needs, children in the care of the HSE and patients of any facility maintained by the HSE.
The level of service provided is determined by available resources.
Treatment for adults who hold a medical card is largely contracted to private dental practitioners.
The unit works closely with colleagues in Primary Care and with hospital colleagues, especially those involved in the organisation and provision of dental general anaesthetic services to children, and children and adults with special care needs.
Children who qualify for secondary care public Orthodontic treatment are referred to the Orthodontic service.
Future strategic developments for the service will include the implementation of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte and the Principal Dental Surgeon will be closely involved with managing this strategic change in service delivery to eligible groups in the Mid West.
The team includes a Principal Dental Surgeon, Senior Administrative Dental Surgeons, Senior Dental Surgeons, General Dental Surgeons, Senior Dental Hygienists, Dental Hygienists, Senior Dental Nurses Dental Nurses and administrative support staff.