Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
See also:
YouTube Video
For more information on this release:
E-mail: health@cso.ie Damien Lenihan (+353) 21 4535424 Paul M Crowley (+353) 21 4535090
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN
CSO statistical release, , 11am

HSE Funded Dental Treatments

2013-2016

Number of HSE funded dental treatments, 2013 - 2014
'000s of treatments
Gender2013201420152016
Male556.6616.4555.9459.1
Female670.4744.6676.4566.5
State Total1,227.01,361.01,232.31,025.6

Number of dental treatments falls by 16% between 2013 and 2016

Figure 1: Total Dental Treatment Services Scheme treatments, 2013-2016
go to full release

The number of Health Service Executive (HSE) funded treatments under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) fell from 1,227.0 thousand in 2013 to 1,025.6 thousand in 2016, a 16.4% reduction.

These payments were paid for by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). Please see background notes for a further description of the PCSR and DTSS.

Summary Points

  • In 2016, 566.5 thousand publicly funded dental treatments were carried out on females compared with 459.1 thousand on males. The corresponding figures for 2013 are 638.5 thousand and 528.3 thousand respectively. See Table 1 and Figure 1.
  • The South HSE region had the highest number of publicly funded dental treatments in 2016, with 312.1 thousand. The lowest number of treatments was carried out in the Dublin North-East region, where 206.4 thousand were carried out.
  • Oral examinations are the most commonly carried out dental procedure, accounting for over 30% of all publicly-funded treatments each year. The second most commonly performed treatment is Restoration using amalgam filling, which makes up approximately 20% of the total number of treatments each year. Apicectomy/amputation of roots is the least carried out treatment, with less than 0.5% of the total number of treatments. Exodontics, which is the removal of a tooth or teeth, has remained relatively constant at approximately 9.8% of total treatments each year. See Table 2.
  • Exodontics and surgical extractions were carried out more commonly on males (73.9 thousand combined) than on females (71.6 thousand combined) in 2016. A greater number of oral examinations were carried out on females (211.1 thousand) than on males (175.8 thousand) in the same period. See Table 3.
  • The number of treatments in the upper part of the mouth was 269.2 thousand in 2016, which is down from 336.9 thousand in 2013. The corresponding totals for the lower part of the mouth are 199.0 and 246.0 thousand respectively. See Table 4.
CurativePreventativeMiscellaneousTotal
2013676.538416.262134.2111227.011
2014752.519457.467150.9721360.958
2015678.152423.365130.6941232.211
2016545.516374.074105.9391025.529
  • The total number of curative treatments in 2016, at 545.5 thousand, is higher than the combined total of 480.1 thousand for preventative and miscellaneous treatments. The corresponding figures for 2013 are 676.5 thousand and 550.5 thousand respectively. See Table 5 and Figure 2.

  • Curative treatments were carried out on females than on males in 2016, with 288.8 thousand and 256.7 procedures being carried out respectively. This is a reduction since 2013, when the corresponding figures were 354.5 thousand and 322.0 thousand respectively.

  • The region with the most curative treatments in 2016 was the South where 169.2 thousand treatments were carried out. Dublin North-East had with the lowest number of curative treatments that year, with a total of 107.2 thousand curative treatments.

  • The average cost of a dental treatment fell from €52.83 to €51.04 per treatment in the years from 2013 to 2016. See Table 6.

2013201420152016
0 - 24 years41.541.2441.1140.75
25 - 34 years43.3343.1243.0342.26
35 - 44 years46.6446.6246.3945.1
45 - 54 years51.5851.6951.0148.88
55 - 64 years60.5560.3459.555.72
65 - 74 years66.7767.8666.8761.68
75 years and over69.271.3271.0565.54
  • The average cost per treatment in 2016 was higher for males at €51.91 than for females at €50.33. Both of these figures have fallen since 2013, when the average cost per treatment for a male was €53.46 and €52.31 for a female.

  • A treatment for the an individual aged 75 years and older was on average 66.7% higher than a treatment for an individual in the 0-24 years age group in 2013. The difference has fallen, with the cost of a treatment being 60.8% higher for individuals in the 75 years and older cohort than the 0-24 age cohort in 2016. See Figure 3.

  • In 2016, the average cost of a treatment was highest in the Dublin Mid-Leinster region at €51.66.

Table 1: Number of above and below the line procedures by gender, age group and local health office region, 2013-2016
'000s of procedures
  2013 2014 2015 2016
  Above the lineBelow the lineTotal Above the lineBelow the lineTotal Above the lineBelow the lineTotal Above the lineBelow the lineTotal
State               
 Total1,166.860.21,227.0 1,290.870.11,361.0 1,168.363.91,232.3 980.045.51,025.6
                 
Gender               
 Male528.328.3556.6 583.233.2616.4 525.930.0555.9 437.521.6459.1
 Female638.531.9670.4 707.636.9744.6 642.433.9676.4 542.523.9566.5
                 
Age Group               
 0 - 24 years164.72.2166.9 180.12.3182.4 154.51.9156.4 118.91.3120.2
 25 - 34 years212.54.4216.9 221.34.6225.9 187.44.0191.5 149.42.7152.1
 35 - 44 years206.36.8213.2 226.27.7233.9 203.96.9210.8 166.64.8171.3
 45 - 54 years177.29.2186.5 202.410.9213.3 188.09.7197.8 160.36.9167.3
 55 - 64 years146.612.0158.6 169.014.0183.0 160.813.0173.8 140.89.3150.1
 65 - 74 years144.814.0158.8 166.417.0183.5 158.215.8173.9 141.011.4152.4
 75 years and over114.711.5126.1 125.413.6139.0 115.512.6128.1 103.19.1112.2
                 
Local Health Office Region
 Dublin Mid-Leinster277.514.5292.0 306.116.8322.9 277.515.1292.6 231.110.9242.0
 Dublin North East236.511.0247.5 262.413.0275.4 233.411.8245.2 198.18.3206.4
 West303.715.9319.6 337.318.6355.8 304.216.5320.8 253.611.4265.0
 South349.118.8367.9 385.021.8406.8 353.120.4373.6 297.214.9312.1
Table 2: Total number and percentage of procedures by treatment description, 2013-2016
 2013 2014 2015 2016
 '000s% '000s% '000s% '000s%
Treatment Description           
1st stage Endodontics8.20.7 8.70.6 7.50.6 5.60.6
Apicectomy / amputation of roots0.1<0.5 0.1<0.5 0.1<0.5 0.1<0.5
Denture repairs33.42.7 38.42.8 36.12.8 31.83.1
Endodontics6.80.6 7.30.5 6.30.5 4.50.4
Exodontics119.39.7 132.79.8 121.99.8 102.09.9
Miscellaneus134.210.9 151.011.1 130.711.1 105.910.3
Oral examination410.333.4 450.033.1 414.933.1 366.135.7
Prophylaxis6.00.5 7.50.6 8.50.6 7.90.8
Prosthetics44.03.6 51.23.8 46.03.8 32.03.1
Protracted periodontal treatment9.30.8 11.60.9 11.50.9 9.00.9
Restoration using amalgam filling263.121.4 287.721.1 256.021.1 204.519.9
Restoration using composite filling133.510.9 148.910.9 137.310.9 112.611.0
Surgical extractions58.94.8 66.04.9 55.54.9 43.54.2
            
Total Treatments1,227.0100.0 1,361.0100.0 1,232.2100.0 1,025.5100.0
Table 3: Number of detailed dental treatments, by gender, age group and Local Health Office region, 2013-2016
'000s of treatments
   1st Stage EndodonticsEndodonticsDenture RepairsExodonticsMiscellaneousOral ExaminationProphylaxisProstheticsProtracted Periodontal TreatmentRestoration using Amalgam FillingRestoration using Composite FillingSurgical ExtractionTotal Treatments
Gender              
 Male20134.13.515.261.956.1175.82.820.34.5119.162.930.5556.6
  20144.53.817.968.562.9192.53.623.75.8129.569.934.0616.4
  20153.73.216.662.454.2177.24.121.15.7114.764.128.9555.9
  20162.82.214.951.643.5155.13.814.84.591.152.522.3459.1
                
 Female20134.03.518.357.478.1234.53.223.64.8144.070.528.4670.4
  20144.23.620.564.288.1257.53.927.55.9158.279.031.9744.6
  20153.83.219.459.576.5237.74.424.95.8141.373.226.6676.4
  20162.82.316.950.462.5211.14.117.24.4113.460.121.2566.5
Age Group              
 0 - 24 years20131.31.10.29.823.559.50.40.60.650.112.57.5166.9
  20141.31.10.210.726.265.70.50.60.654.213.38.0182.4
  20151.10.90.29.421.458.10.50.40.546.011.36.4156.4
  20160.70.60.17.516.246.60.50.30.434.48.34.6120.2
                
 25 - 34 years20131.51.30.816.529.673.30.72.01.259.717.812.7216.9
  20141.51.20.916.631.876.21.02.01.461.918.213.2225.9
  20151.21.00.814.026.566.11.01.71.351.815.710.4191.5
  20160.80.70.711.621.055.10.81.10.939.311.98.1152.1
                
 35 - 44 years20131.51.32.319.125.371.30.74.21.454.020.311.8213.2
  20141.51.32.621.428.377.51.04.61.758.522.612.7233.9
  20151.31.12.419.325.670.81.14.11.751.920.510.9210.8
  20161.00.82.015.020.561.51.02.71.341.216.08.4171.3
                
 45 - 54 years20131.21.14.222.320.260.00.86.51.639.020.49.2186.5
  20141.41.25.125.023.367.91.27.52.244.622.711.1213.3
  20151.21.04.723.320.764.41.46.52.241.521.49.4197.8
  20160.90.84.219.417.458.11.24.51.734.117.57.4167.3
                
 55 - 64 years20131.10.96.720.714.249.50.99.31.925.620.77.1158.6
  20141.11.08.123.616.656.51.210.72.429.623.98.4183.0
  20151.00.97.622.315.354.81.59.72.428.322.67.2173.8
  20160.80.76.619.313.150.51.56.71.924.018.96.1150.1
                
 65 - 74 years20131.00.89.018.212.152.21.011.51.621.623.86.0158.8
  20141.10.910.820.914.159.01.314.02.124.427.77.1183.5
  20151.00.810.219.612.456.91.712.72.223.326.76.3173.9
  20160.90.79.117.410.653.21.69.01.719.923.05.3152.4
                
 75 years and over20130.70.510.312.69.344.61.49.91.013.118.14.7126.1
  20140.80.610.714.510.747.21.111.71.214.420.45.5139.0
  20150.70.610.113.98.743.81.310.81.213.219.14.8128.1
  20160.50.49.011.87.241.01.37.71.011.516.93.7112.2
Local Health Office Region
 Dublin Mid-Leinster20131.71.56.230.929.398.01.811.21.862.831.715.0292.0
  20141.91.67.134.834.2107.41.913.02.267.634.916.3322.9
  20151.61.46.832.329.099.42.311.72.160.132.213.8292.6
  20161.21.06.225.723.287.32.28.21.748.325.911.0242.0
                
 Dublin North East20131.51.17.222.632.481.61.08.71.151.824.813.5247.5
  20141.61.28.025.138.189.21.210.41.456.128.015.2275.4
  20151.41.07.922.632.980.01.29.21.648.925.912.6245.2
  20161.10.77.019.426.871.31.26.31.339.721.510.2206.4
                
 West20132.42.18.133.532.8109.31.511.02.870.033.512.7319.6
  20142.52.29.436.235.9120.82.012.73.677.737.914.8355.8
  20152.11.98.632.531.5111.42.311.43.268.534.712.6320.8
  20161.51.37.927.725.497.82.07.82.353.528.39.5265.0
                
 South20132.62.211.932.339.7121.41.613.03.678.443.417.7367.9
  20142.82.313.836.642.7132.62.315.14.486.348.119.7406.8
  20152.42.012.634.537.3124.12.713.84.678.544.516.5373.6
  20161.81.510.729.130.5109.82.69.73.763.036.812.8312.1
Table 4: Number of procedures by mouth position, by gender, age group and local health office region, 2013-2016
'000s of treatments
 2013201420152016
 Upper RightUpper LeftLower RightLower LeftTotal Treatments Upper RightUpper LeftLower RightLower LeftTotal Treatments Upper RightUpper LeftLower RightLower LeftTotal Treatments Upper RightUpper LeftLower RightLower LeftTotal Treatments
State                       
 Total168.7168.2123.8122.2583.0 185.2184.6137.8136.5644.0 166.2165.7123.9122.5578.2 135.2134.0100.199.0468.2
                         
Gender                       
 Male80.980.658.958.1278.6 88.388.065.664.5306.4 79.078.158.558.2273.8 63.463.147.146.7220.2
 Female87.887.664.964.1304.4 96.996.672.272.0337.6 87.287.665.464.3304.4 71.870.953.052.3248.0
                         
Age Group                       
 0 - 24 years24.524.316.216.181.1 26.426.117.817.287.4 22.622.414.914.374.2 16.816.811.110.755.5
 25 - 34 years33.133.421.120.6108.1 33.833.921.921.8111.4 28.228.418.418.093.0 22.121.914.013.871.8
 35 - 44 years32.532.821.120.3106.7 35.535.722.922.7116.7 31.531.820.420.2104.0 24.824.716.016.081.5
 45 - 54 years27.927.718.418.192.1 31.431.421.021.0104.8 29.028.819.519.696.9 23.923.815.616.079.4
 55 - 64 years21.421.216.316.275.2 24.524.418.818.986.6 23.023.117.817.681.5 19.919.515.014.769.1
 65 - 74 years17.917.617.617.570.5 20.920.520.019.881.2 19.919.718.718.777.0 17.517.216.115.766.5
 75 years and over11.511.313.113.349.1 12.712.515.315.255.7 11.911.514.214.151.7 10.210.112.211.944.4
                         
Local Health Office Region
 Dublin Mid-Leinster41.541.030.029.6142.1 45.044.633.332.4155.4 40.640.429.829.2139.9 32.332.223.923.8112.1
 Dublin North East33.333.124.323.7114.3 36.236.426.726.6125.9 32.031.923.923.6111.4 26.726.219.719.391.9
 West44.144.032.331.7152.0 48.848.835.735.8169.2 42.843.332.531.9150.5 34.534.426.025.8120.6
 South49.950.237.137.2174.4 55.154.742.041.7193.5 50.950.137.637.8176.4 41.641.330.630.1143.6
Table 5: Number of curative, preventative, and miscellaneous treatments, by gender, age group and local health office region, 2013-2016
'000s of treatments
2013201420152016
 CurativePreventativeMiscellaneousTotal CurativePreventativeMiscellaneousTotal CurativePreventativeMiscellaneousTotal CurativePreventativeMiscellaneousTotal
State                   
 Total676.5416.2134.21,227.0 752.6457.4151.01,361.0 678.1423.3130.71,232.3 545.5374.1106.01,025.6
                     
Gender                   
 Male322.0178.556.1556.6 357.5196.062.9616.4 320.4181.254.2555.9 256.7158.943.5459.1
 Female354.5237.778.1670.4 395.1261.488.1744.6 357.7242.176.5676.4 288.8215.262.5566.5
                     
Age Group                   
 0 - 24 years83.559.823.5166.9 90.066.226.2182.4 76.458.621.4156.4 56.947.116.2120.2
 25 - 34 years113.374.029.6216.9 116.977.231.8225.9 97.967.126.5191.5 75.155.921.0152.1
 35 - 44 years115.872.025.3213.2 127.078.528.3233.9 113.371.925.6210.8 88.362.620.5171.3
 45 - 54 years105.560.820.2186.5 120.969.123.3213.3 111.365.720.7197.8 90.559.317.4167.3
 55 - 64 years94.050.414.2158.6 108.857.716.6183.0 102.156.415.3173.8 85.052.013.1150.1
 65 - 74 years93.553.212.1158.8 109.060.314.1183.5 102.958.612.4173.9 87.054.810.6152.4
 75 years and over70.946.09.3126.1 79.948.310.7139.0 74.345.18.7128.1 62.642.47.2112.2
                     
Local Health Office Region
 Dublin Mid-Leinster162.999.829.3292.0 179.4109.434.2322.9 161.9101.729.0292.6 129.389.523.2242.0
 Dublin North East132.582.632.4247.5 146.990.338.1275.4 131.181.232.9245.2 107.272.526.8206.4
 West176.0110.832.8319.6 197.1122.835.9355.8 175.6113.631.5320.8 139.999.825.4265.0
 South205.1123.139.7367.9 229.1135.042.7406.8 209.5126.837.3373.6 169.2112.430.5312.1
Table 6: Average payment per dental treatment, by gender, age group, and local health office region, 2013-2016
 2013 2014 2015 2016
State       
 Total52.83 53.34 53.24 51.04
         
Gender       
 Male53.46 54.04 53.87 51.91
 Female52.31 52.76 52.72 50.33
         
Age Group       
 0 - 24 years41.50 41.24 41.11 40.75
 25 - 34 years43.33 43.12 43.03 42.26
 35 - 44 years46.64 46.62 46.39 45.10
 45 - 54 years51.58 51.69 51.01 48.88
 55 - 64 years60.55 60.34 59.50 55.72
 65 - 74 years66.77 67.86 66.87 61.68
 75 years and over69.20 71.32 71.05 65.54
         
Local Health Office Region
 Dublin Mid-Leinster53.33 53.88 53.68 51.66
 Dublin North East52.36 53.03 53.31 50.68
 West52.43 52.99 52.63 50.46
 South53.09 53.43 53.38 51.29

Background Notes

The data in this release is provided to the Central Statistics Office by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS). The PCRS is the part of the Health Service Executive (HSE) that processes payments to all of the GPs, pharmacists, dentists and other health professionals who provide free or reduced cost services to the public.

Payments to dentists are covered under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). Under the DTSS, General Medical Services (GMS) eligible adults have access to a range of treatments and clinical procedures comprised of Routine Treatments and Full Upper and Lower Dentures.  Dentists may also prescribe a range of medicines to eligible persons. All claims under the DTSS are processed and paid by the PCRS.

Under the GMS, people who are unable without undue hardship to arrange general practitioner medical and surgical services for themselves and their dependants may be granted a medical card and receive free general medical services.

The figures derived in this release refer to treatments that were carried out in the corresponding year.

Procedures and definitions

  • ‘Above the Line’ treatments are uncomplicated procedures e.g. Amalgam filling, extractions, etc.
  • ‘Below the Line’ treatments are advanced procedures e.g. Protracted Periodontal, prosthetics, etc.
  • ‘1st stage endodontics’ are the initial stage of root canal treatment.
  • ‘Apicectomy/amputation of roots’ is the surgical removal of the root of a tooth.
  • ‘Endodontics’ is the branch of dentistry concerned with the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions that affect the tooth-pulp, root, and periapical tissues.
  • ‘Exodontics’ is the branch of dentistry that is concerned with removal of teeth.
  • ‘Miscellaneous’ treatments include prescriptions and radiographs.
  • ‘Prophylaxis’ is a treatment given, or action taken to prevent disease.
  • ‘Prosthetics’ include full upper or lower dentures (for edentulous and non-edentulous person)  and , partial upper or lower dentures, complete upper or lower reline, and complete upper and lower reline.
  • ‘Protracted periodontal treatment’ is a treatment relating to the gums.
  • ‘Upper right’ refers to teeth numbered from 11-18.
  • ‘Upper left’ refer to teeth numbered from 21-28.
  • ‘Lower right’ refers to teeth number from 31-38.
  • ‘Lower right’ refers to teeth numbered from 41-48.
  • The upper mouth position includes both the upper right and upper left sections of the mouth. The lower mouth position includes both the lower right and lower left positions of the mouth.

Curative treatments include the following;

  • 1st stage Endodontics

  • Apicectomy / amputation of roots

  • Denture repairs

  • Endodontics

  • Exodontics

  • Prosthetics

  • Restoration using amalgam filling

  • Restoration using composite filling

  • Protracted periodontal treatment

  • Surgical extractions

 Preventative treatments include the following;

  • Oral examination
  • Prophylaxis

 Miscellaneous treatments include all miscellaneous treatments and radiographs.

Regions

The regions consist of the local health offices and are constructed as follows; 

Local Health Offices

Dublin Mid-Leinster Dublin South Dublin North East Dublin North West
  Dublin South East   Dublin North Central
  Dublin South City   Dublin North City
  Dublin South West   Cavan / Monaghan
  Dublin West   Louth
  Kildare / West Wicklow   Meath
  Wicklow    
  Laois / Offaly     
  Longford / Westmeath    
       
West Galway South South Lee Cork
  Mayo   North Lee Cork
  Roscommon   West Cork
  Donegal   Kerry
  Sligo / Leitrim   North Cork
  Clare   Carlow / Kilkenny
  North Tipperary / East Limerick   Waterford
  Limerick   South Tipperary
      Wexford
upArrowHide Background Notes

Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/hfdt/hsefundeddentaltreatments2013-2016/