The Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection and provides a limited financial contribution towards dental services if you are eligible. Your dental practice can check your eligibility before you attend if you provide them with your Personal Public Service (PPS) number. If eligible, it will cover the full cost of an oral examination once a calendar year and also a payment of €42 towards tooth and gum cleaning. 

If you have pay income tax you can claim tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) for certain items of dental treatment such as crowns, bridges, veneers, root canal treatment, treatment for gum disease, orthodontic treatment and removal of impacted wisdom teeth. You must claim the tax relief within 4 years of your treatment and you can apply for this online or using a paper form. Contact the Revenue or check their website for information.  

If you hold a medical card (not a GP visit card unfortunately) you are entitled to a dental examination, teeth cleaning, dental extractions and two fillings per calendar year. Some other treatments may be covered but require your dentist to seek approval from the HSE before providing them. Not all dentists have a contract to provide treatment to medical card patients so make sure your dental practice knows you wish to use your medical card at their practice before you get treatment. They can also check your entitlements before you attend by checking your medical card number on their HSE system. Remember that even if you have registered as a medical card holder with your dental practice, you can still chose to pay privately for any treatments which are not available under the medical card.