There was no school screening in Monaghan in the last academic year, the Dáil heard. Photograph: GettyThe Minister for Health has criticised the “drift” of dentists to cosmetic dentistry, including Botox and injectables, rather than to the treatment of children. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill made her comments in the Dáil as questions were raised by Sinn Féin TD Cathy Bennett about major shortfalls in school dental screening and “extreme waiting times” for orthodontic care. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said there was no school screening in Monaghan in the 2024-2025 academic year. Pointing out that dentists are being trained in State-funded facilities, she said there was a “drift towards cosmetic dentistry, the scale of practice in injectables, Botox and other things being done by dentists”.

Source: The Irish Times January 23, 2026 06:44 UTC