The dental workforce has declined by over a fifth in the last 17 years.
Over 100,000 children were denied school screening dental appointments last year.
New figures show there has been over a 30% decline in schoolchildren being seen by public-only HSE dentists in the last 5 years.
Between 2006 and 2022, the amount of workforce dentists available in the country decreased by 23% - over 70 extra whole-time equivalent dentists are needed by the HSE to return to 2009 staffing levels.
Doctor Orry Torsney of Central Park Dental in Mullingar says children are coming to the dentist for the first time too old, and in pain:
Enterprise Department Confirms Over 80 Westmeath Jobs At Risk
Offaly Teacher Pays Tribute To Colleagues After Winning STEM Award
Asthma Society of Ireland Hold Workshop In Laois This Weekend
Laois TD Calls For Shorter Ambulance Deployment Distance
Uisce Eireann Publish Shannon Pipeline Consultation Submissions Report
70% Of Farming Families Lack Succession Plan
Mental Health Charity Triple Counselling Sessions After Citywest Protests
Westmeath Library To Close For Three Months From Today
Drug Usage On The Rise In The Midlands
Shannon Callows Farmers Demand Inclusion In Flood Management Group
Offaly Teachers Win National STEM Award
Appeal Lodged Against 600 Acre Laois Solar Farm Project
Government Funding To Benefit Midlands Historical Structures
Former GAA Referee Pleads Guilty To Indecent Assault
Laois TD Warns EU Plans Threaten Irish Neutrality
Almost One Million Cigarettes Seized In Offaly
Management Can Easily End Industrial Action - SIPTU
Westmeath Credit Union Manager Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Midlands Readers Encouraged To Take Part in MS Readathon