Dentists and medical cards

brianthebard

Hi all,
Can someone tell me what the story is with dentists and the medical card? are they under any obligation to take them? What does the card cover? Is there a list of dentists that do take the card? And any other info that may be useful would be great, thanks.

davo10

Medical cards cover what is considered necessary dental treatment to maintain oral health such as amalgam fillings on back teeth, white fillings on front 6 teeth, extractions, dentures, root treatments on front teeth only etc. It does not cover cosmetic treatments such as crowns/bridges/implants/whitening/chrome dentures and root treatments on back teeth etc. Dentists are not obliged to take med cards. The reason many dentists have left scheme and many more will leave is due to problems with HSE, not just money. The scheme was supposed to be overhauled 5 years ago to make it easier for patients and dentists but this has been put on the back burner, (no headlines/votes in dentistry when there are so many problems in other areas of health system therefore no urgency on HSE's part to sort out problems). I'm afraid the number of dentists providing med card treatments is likely to decrease in the future and patients will have to attend health board surgeries. The health board has primary responcibility for dental treatment for med card holders, you are entitled to contact your local health board clinic and request treatment at no cost.

AnneO'Donovan

http://www.welfare.ie/publications/dentists/dentistlist.html

Hi,
The above link should take you to an index page where you can click on the area you live in and get a list of dentists approved by the dept. of social welfare. Good Luck!

brianthebard

Fantastic thanks Anne.

davo10

Anne the link you provided is to list of dentists who provide treatment on PRSI/PPS scheme not med card. You have to contact local Health Board to find up to date info on list of dentists still in med card scheme and HSE clinics.

AnneO'Donovan

Ah right, sorry bout that.