A group of dentists who claim their practices are in danger of closure because of medical card cutbacks have lost a High Court challenge against the Health Service Executive.
The 25 dentists wanted to prevent the HSE reducing dental services to their medical card patients pending the outcome of a separate legal row over changes to the Dental Treatment Service Scheme.
Ms Justice Mary Irvine criticised evidence submitted in support of the dentists' claim.
The judge said it was speculative in parts and that elements of evidence created significant doubt regarding the financial position of all 25 practices.
She also described as a 'bold assertion' the claim that each dentist was in danger of going out of business.
The HSE announced last April that only emergency dental treatment would be available to medical card holders under the DTSS.
Dentists Martin Reid and James Turner, who successfully secured injunctions against the HSE, are due to challenge the changes in the High Court in December.
Dr Turner, who is a director of the Irish Dental Association, said they were disappointed at today's outcome but they would now concentrate on December's court case.
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) has said it was 'fully supportive of the case taken by the dentists against the HSE'.
A spokesman for the IDA said it would now study the ruling with its legal advisors.
