This year, only 78 places were available in total on dentistry courses across Cork and Dublin. This resulted in places being allocated on a lottery basis, with many students who met very high points standards missing out.
The small number of available places across the country might suggest an existing abundance of practicing dentists in Ireland. In reality, even with the opening of a new RCSI dental school offering 20 new CAO places annually, the opposite is true.
Dentistry is facing one of the most severe recruitment and retention crises in Irish healthcare, and the shortage of trained professionals is already seriously impacting upon patients’ ability to access timely care.
At the same time, around half of all training places in Irish dental schools are allocated to non-EEA students outside of the CAO system, this is despite the very small overall number of places available.
The reason the numbers of overseas students has increased is directly attributable to the chronic underinvestment in our dental schools, forcing them to admit greater numbers of students who are paying in excess of €50,000 per annum in college fees.
While these students contribute greatly during their time here, most return to their home countries to begin their careers.
For years, the Irish Dental Association has argued for a more balanced approach. We believe a cap of 20% on non-EEA students is essential until there is a serious growth in the number of places offered by dental schools, ensuring that the majority of places are reserved for students who are more likely to stay and practice in Ireland upon graduation.
The chronic shortage of dentists is not an abstract concern. It has real consequences in every part of the country
 Patients are finding it increasingly difficult to access routine and emergency dental treatment. Waiting lists for hospital-based care continue to lengthen.
Dentists themselves are under extraordinary pressure, with many leaving the profession early, moving into different areas of healthcare, or moving abroad in search of better conditions. Practices are struggling to recruit and retain staff, making it even harder to deliver care to those who need it most.
International comparisons underline the urgency of the problem. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of dentists per capita in the European Union and among OECD countries.
That shortfall has been compounded by over a decade of underinvestment, restricting access to dental care for millions of adults. Between 2009 and 2023, we found there had been a deficit of €800m in public spending on dental services.
Oral health has simply not been prioritised in Irish health policy, despite its central role in overall health and wellbeing
The consequences of inaction are stark. Oral health is inseparable from general health. Untreated dental problems can lead to pain, infection, missed school and work days, and can even contribute to more serious systemic health issues.
For children, lack of access to care can have lifelong consequences. For older patients and vulnerable groups, delays or absence of treatment can be deeply damaging. When a healthcare system allows oral health to deteriorate, it inevitably increases pressure elsewhere, from GPs to hospital emergency departments.
The solution starts with education and training. We urgently need a substantial increase in the number of places available to study dentistry in Ireland. Investing in the existing dental schools in Dublin and Cork and in new community-based outreach services is an obvious first step.
Every year of continued delay represents another cohort of students denied the opportunity to qualify and practice; another missed chance to expand Ireland’s capacity.
Retention and broader recruitment is equally critical. Dentists need to see a future for themselves in Ireland, one where they can deliver high-quality care without excessive bureaucracy or inadequate resourcing.
Reform of State dental schemes, particularly the Medical Card scheme and the Med 2 tax relief regime, is long overdue, as highlighted in our Pre-Budget Submission.
The Government needs to consider adding all dental professions to the Critical Skills List, which is currently under review, in order to ensure that non-EEA dentists are aware that they can easily come to live and work in Ireland.
This is about ensuring that people across Ireland, regardless of their income, status or location, can access the dental care they need in a timely manner.
Oral health is an essential part of public health. Without decisive action to train, recruit and retain more dentists, Ireland risks entrenching a system where only those who can afford private treatment are guaranteed timely access and safe care.
Neither the Government nor dental patients can afford to wait.
The crisis in Irish dentistry has been building for years. We now have a chance to reverse course, but it will require urgency and political will. Anything less will fail both the students who wish to serve their communities and the patients who depend on them.
Fintan Hourihan, chief executive of the Irish Dental Association