Dental care for children

Hi,
Yes, all school age children are entitled to free dental care and orthodontics at the hospital. (As your husband will be paying NI contributions.) Your main problem will be the waiting time. There is currently an 18 month waiting list for a check up! Once in the system though, the waiting time is not so long.

It may be possible to shorten that time with your 15 year old, by going to a private dentist and getting a referral straight to the ortho department at the hospital but I am not 100% sure if that reduces the time.

Privately,  an initial orthodontic appointment will be in the region of 70 euro plus. Don't forget, that orthodontic treatment is done over a couple of years and payment is spread every 6-8 weeks, (around 30 ish a visit, after initial fees for the actual braces and extractions,) not all in one go.

There is also the teaching clinic, (at the hospital) where dentists are doing thier masters in orthodontics, again, I am not sure if you can get a referral straight there or via the hospital, maybe you could phone them directly.

Also, in the meantime (while waiting for check ups at the hospital,) you could go privately. A child's check up, no treatment will be about 10 euro. This will not effect your appointment at the hospital.

Hope this helps

Thanks , thinks will try find a private one for my son, my  daughter will also need braces but she is not urgent both me and my husband are working here and will paying NI so will have try get her an appointment ......just as soon as I get school finalized , my tax number, residence and the other million things I currently need to sort out!!