Sinn Féin will this week bring forward a Dáil motion seeking major reform of dental care.
Cavan-Monaghan TD Cathy Bennett said her party's proposals put a clear focus on cutting years-long waiting lists for children.
This comes as more than 2000 people in the Dublin North East region mainly children, are on the HSE's waiting list for dental and orthodontic treatment, including braces and dental surgery.
Across the state, over 11,000 people, mainly children, are on waiting lists, with 8,000 waiting over a year. 40% of children waiting for braces are waiting more than two years.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Bennett said this motion aims to improve access to a dentist when you need one and cut health costs for households.
She believes dental and oral health should be accessible to all on the basis of need, not ability to pay.
Deputy Bennett told Northern Sound: "Just half of children get their dental screening appointments in primary school. Poor dental and orthodontic care have lifelong consequences.
"Just one-third of dentists are providing care on the public dental treatment services scheme, and fewer than 1-in-10 dentists work for the HSE. Ireland has less dentists per head of population than any EU peer nation, at nearly half the EU average.
"Our motion this week sets out the necessary steps that must be taken to reduce years-long waiting lists for children who need preventive and corrective care; deliver good public dental services, including a public-only dentist contract; and ensure children get dental screening when they are in primary school.
"We are also calling for the public access Dental Treatment Services Scheme to be modernised and integrated with the GP Visit Card. Dental and oral health should be accessible to all on the basis of need, not ability to pay."
