Some children in Tipperary are having to wait until they’re 12 to have their first check-up from the dentist.
Under the current HSE scheme, children should get their first free check up in second class – and should be seen a couple of times before they turn 16.
However, the Irish Dental Association says the delays are because of a staffing crisis in the Public Dental Service, and that the system is facing collapse unless an extra 150 dentists are recruited.
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Aidan Burke from Thurles Dentist.ie says sixth class can be too late to prevent decay.