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In this vital account of the Irish Dental Association, published to mark its centenary, Eoin Kinsella and Frances Nolan explore the history of the Association and of its influence on the dental profession. Over the course of the last century the Association has been at the forefront of efforts to improve the 'art and science' of dentistry, to promote better oral health, and to advocate on behalf of its members. As the leading voice of the profession, the Association has been integral to some of the most important public health campaigns of the twentieth century, such as the inclusion of public dental health provisions under the National Health Insurance Scheme, and the fluoridation of the water supply in the 1960s. More recently the Association has led efforts to reform the medical card scheme, and to raise public awareness of the importance of dental health. Events of the past two years, which saw the Association at the forefront in guiding the response of dental practitioners to the COVID-19 pandemic, have reinforced its importance as the representative association for Irish dentists.
