That's according to new analysis.
There are just 11 dentists covering medical card holders in Laois and Offaly, after over 200 practitioners around the country left the scheme.
Analysis from the Irish Independent has found there are 252 fewer dentists than last year, with just over 800 serving the whole country.
Laois and Offaly are among the worst affected in terms of a shortage of practitioners, with just 11 dentists covering the two counties.
There are only 12 in Clare, while Wexford only has 13.
Galway, Mayo and Roscommon have seen the biggest fall off in the number of dentists.
Allowing dentists to offer 'preventative treatment' to medical card holders could lead to more practitioners signing up for the scheme.
That's the view of a Westmeath dentist.
Dr. Orry Torsney, of Central Park Dental in Mullingar, says the current scope of treatment is narrow:
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