Dáil Question on Orthodontic Services for school going children

QUESTION NO: 605

DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr White) for WRITTEN ANSWER on 09/10/2012

To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update detailing the progress being made on the proposed new method for categorising need for orthodontic services for school going children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Anthony Lawlor T.D.

REPLY.

Patients, who are referred by the HSE’s dental service school screening programme to the HSE Orthodontic Service, are assessed under the modified Index of Treatment Need (IOTN) which was introduced in 2007. Patients with the greatest level of need, i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment.

The HSE is commencing an independent review of Orthodontic Services which will consider a number of service provision models. The outcome of this review will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best model of care delivery, given current resources and expected future demand for services.