Vaping & Nicotine Pouches and Your Oral Health Postcard
List of references used in the development of this card.
Category: Dental
Minister’s new oral health plan may be last chance to fix our dental crisis
Dental care is a right, not a privilege, but it’s one that vulnerable patients currently have very little access to, writes Fintan Hourihan, CEO of the Irish Dental Association.
Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill intends to publish a three-year plan shortly which will herald the initial roll-out of the 2019 national oral health policy known as Smile agus Sláinte. This may be the last chance to fix our dental crisis.
We can only hope that lessons have been learned since 2019, when a plan was launched without any proper or real consultation with Irish dentists.
The first the Irish Dental Association heard of the plan to introduce a new State-funded scheme for children to be seen in private practice was when we read the published oral health strategy report on the eve of our annual conference in April 2019.
We made our disquiet known at the time, and we hope that has been heard. The association is willing to play its part either in co-designing a new policy or acting as a trusted adviser to a policy for which the profession has so far been treated as an observer.
We have extensively engaged with the Department of Health, HSE and wider Oireachtas to advance our own set of constructive proposals since 2019. We strongly believe that accessibility to care for lower-income families is essential in a just, dignified and health-focused society.
With the publication of the Smile agus Sláinte Implementation Plan imminent, we welcome the fact that there is now a recognition that access to care for children and vulnerable adults is a problem which demands action. Our concerns are more about the ‘how’ of what is being suggested to address these issues. We fear current plans take no account of the capacity problems facing Irish dentistry.
Latest figures show that over 104,000 children are not receiving the oral health checks they are entitled to every year, a situation that is both unacceptable and entirely avoidable. The true deficit here comes from a systematic underfunding of public dental services by consecutive governments.
There has been a €800 million cut in spending on dental care for PRSI and Medical Card patients between 2009 and 2023 — representing a lost decade in dental care for the most vulnerable in our society. As it stands, there is an acute shortage of dentists in both private and public dental services across the country.
Many of our members are simply not equipped to deal with a huge influx of children, as much as they would like to offer them the care they need. For many who have medical cards, it can already be extremely difficult to secure an appointment.
Our most recent data shows that 90% of private general dental practitioners have stated that they would not partake in a proposed new scheme to treat children in private clinics. The capacity simply does not exist.
Staffing shortages alongside a lack of paediatric expertise and experience mean that public services still remain the best potential pathway to treatment.
It is our view that an appropriately resourced, restored public dental system is best placed to provide targeted, free oral healthcare to children from birth to the end of primary school education, allowing space for intervention from dental practices for complex cases. Private primary dental settings will remain the main centres for life-course oral healthcare provision.
In the day-to-day political debate, dentistry is often implied to be a luxury, rather than a core pillar of lifetime health outcomes — as most of our European neighbours have come to realise in the design of their national health strategies.
We cannot have good health without good oral health.
Poor oral health can have a domino effect into chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and respiratory problems.
The cost to patients, particularly to those who could not afford preventative care in the first place, can be astronomical in both monetary and health terms.
We have published seven major policy papers since 2018, all with concrete, costed and evidence-based proposals that would ensure a top-class level of care across Ireland. Our public dental system used to be the envy of much of the Western world, it has sharply declined over the past 15 years.
The good news is that a prevention-focused model of oral healthcare can drastically reduce cost and health burdens over the lifetime of a patient. The pain, resulting financial outlay and inconvenience of dental issues can be avoided entirely if the public is given an affordable, accessible and understandable route to regular dental check-ups.
To this end, we believe that reforms to the Med 2 tax relief scheme, as outlined in our Budget 2026 submission, to extend tax relief to additional treatments, are necessary. Currently, only a narrow range of procedures qualify, excluding much of the preventative care that could stop problems before they escalate.
Reforming Med 2 to include rehabilitative and preventative treatments such as fillings and dentures, alongside the restoration of public dental services for children, would drastically expand access across society and incentivise people to seek timely care.
It would also provide a real alternative whilst public services are being rebuilt.
In the Programme for Government, there are six important core commitments made with regards to dental services. One of them is to hire more public dentists, the other is to “expand access to the orthodontic scheme for children and strengthen the School Dental Programme.”
While this express commitment to our key issues is welcome, we have yet to see substantive follow-through on these two pledges that meet the challenges our patients are facing.
Our economy is in a very strong position, despite recent disruptions in global trade dynamics. We have had several consecutive record health budgets. There is strong evidence of political will among government and stakeholders to transform oral healthcare in Ireland.
Yet, there is no guarantee that the government will keep its promise over the next four years. We are under no illusions about the scale of the task ahead.
We believe we are at a real turning point in rightfully putting oral health at the centre of general health and securing its rightful place at the top of the agenda in Irish healthcare policy. We also believe that a failure to follow through and engage collaboratively with the dental sector will have severe long-term public health consequences.
That need not be the case. In a time of abundant opportunity, we stand ready and willing to assist the Government in implementing an effective national oral healthcare strategy. But we as a profession do need to be substantively engaged.
We want a national policy that works for low-income families, that delivers value for money to the State and the taxpayer alike, that allows for sustainable private dental practice and one that ultimately leads to a healthier Ireland. Now is the time to deliver it.
Election Candidate Biographies
The ballot papers for the Dental Council elections to elect seven dentists to sit on the Dental Council from 2025 to 2030 were posted on 3 October 2025. The following candidates are standing and if you click on the link, you can view their biography and personal statement on why they are standing:
- Dr Francis Burke, Cork
- Dr Patrick Cleary, Dublin
- Dr Niamh Coffey, Cork
- Dr Kirsten Fitzgerald, Dublin
- Dr Sarah Jane Grufferty, Dublin
- Dr Gerry Kearns, Dublin
- Dr Paul Leavy, Co Kildare
- Dr Philip Mulholland, Co Cavan
- Dr Carmel O’Brien, Co Galway
- Dr Anne O’Donnell, Co Wexford
- Dr Annette O’Donovan, Limerick
- Dr Isabel Olegário da Costa, Dublin
- Dr Enda Whelan, Co Laois
This is your opportunity to have your say on who can contribute best to the work of the Dental Council and you are encouraged to vote.
Dentist recruitment shortage is an emergency that must be addressed
This year, only 78 places were available in total on dentistry courses across Cork and Dublin. This resulted in places being allocated on a lottery basis, with many students who met very high points standards missing out.
The small number of available places across the country might suggest an existing abundance of practicing dentists in Ireland. In reality, even with the opening of a new RCSI dental school offering 20 new CAO places annually, the opposite is true.
Dentistry is facing one of the most severe recruitment and retention crises in Irish healthcare, and the shortage of trained professionals is already seriously impacting upon patients’ ability to access timely care.
At the same time, around half of all training places in Irish dental schools are allocated to non-EEA students outside of the CAO system, this is despite the very small overall number of places available.
The reason the numbers of overseas students has increased is directly attributable to the chronic underinvestment in our dental schools, forcing them to admit greater numbers of students who are paying in excess of €50,000 per annum in college fees.
While these students contribute greatly during their time here, most return to their home countries to begin their careers.
For years, the Irish Dental Association has argued for a more balanced approach. We believe a cap of 20% on non-EEA students is essential until there is a serious growth in the number of places offered by dental schools, ensuring that the majority of places are reserved for students who are more likely to stay and practice in Ireland upon graduation.
Patients are finding it increasingly difficult to access routine and emergency dental treatment. Waiting lists for hospital-based care continue to lengthen.
Dentists themselves are under extraordinary pressure, with many leaving the profession early, moving into different areas of healthcare, or moving abroad in search of better conditions. Practices are struggling to recruit and retain staff, making it even harder to deliver care to those who need it most.
International comparisons underline the urgency of the problem. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of dentists per capita in the European Union and among OECD countries.
That shortfall has been compounded by over a decade of underinvestment, restricting access to dental care for millions of adults. Between 2009 and 2023, we found there had been a deficit of €800m in public spending on dental services.
The consequences of inaction are stark. Oral health is inseparable from general health. Untreated dental problems can lead to pain, infection, missed school and work days, and can even contribute to more serious systemic health issues.
For children, lack of access to care can have lifelong consequences. For older patients and vulnerable groups, delays or absence of treatment can be deeply damaging. When a healthcare system allows oral health to deteriorate, it inevitably increases pressure elsewhere, from GPs to hospital emergency departments.
The solution starts with education and training. We urgently need a substantial increase in the number of places available to study dentistry in Ireland. Investing in the existing dental schools in Dublin and Cork and in new community-based outreach services is an obvious first step.
Every year of continued delay represents another cohort of students denied the opportunity to qualify and practice; another missed chance to expand Ireland’s capacity.
Retention and broader recruitment is equally critical. Dentists need to see a future for themselves in Ireland, one where they can deliver high-quality care without excessive bureaucracy or inadequate resourcing.
Reform of State dental schemes, particularly the Medical Card scheme and the Med 2 tax relief regime, is long overdue, as highlighted in our Pre-Budget Submission.
The Government needs to consider adding all dental professions to the Critical Skills List, which is currently under review, in order to ensure that non-EEA dentists are aware that they can easily come to live and work in Ireland.
This is about ensuring that people across Ireland, regardless of their income, status or location, can access the dental care they need in a timely manner.
Oral health is an essential part of public health. Without decisive action to train, recruit and retain more dentists, Ireland risks entrenching a system where only those who can afford private treatment are guaranteed timely access and safe care.
Neither the Government nor dental patients can afford to wait.
The crisis in Irish dentistry has been building for years. We now have a chance to reverse course, but it will require urgency and political will. Anything less will fail both the students who wish to serve their communities and the patients who depend on them.
Dentists advocate tax reforms in pre-Budget submission to improve access to dental care following €800 million in state cuts
(25 Aug 2025)
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) is calling for range of impactful reforms in their 2026 Pre-budget Submission, aimed at addressing growing difficulties in accessing dental care and the prolonged staffing crisis facing the dental sector.
The submission provides seven recommendations around three core themes of;
- improving funding and public access to dental care;
- ensuring that public and private dental services can secure adequate levels of staffing;
- securing further investment and reform in dental schools.
The Association is calling for reform of the Med 2 tax relief system, which would allow patients to receive a tax break on a range of preventative and rehabilitative treatments.
86% of Irish dentists state they believe reform of the Med 2 scheme would improve access to care and encourage patients to seek vital preventative care.
The Association is also calling for changes to the Critical Skills List, advocating for the addition of dentists and dental nurses. This would bring dentistry in line with the recent changes made for non-EEA doctors, whereby doctors who have been in the State for between 2-5 years may apply for a new permission granting them the right to work without a permit.
The Association recently found that there has been a €800 million cut in state spending on dental care for PRSI and Medical Card patients between 2009 and 2023.
This €800 million deficit in funding represents a lost decade in dental care, which has compounded negative health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society. The IDA is calling on the government to commit to a high level of investment in services for PRSI and Medical Card patients to unwind this deficit.
The Association is also advocating for there to be a requirement on dentists and dental auxiliary workers to maintain professional competence on a statutory footing, which can be done without any additional financial cost to the state and will safeguard patients.
The IDA is calling for the establishment of a structured mentoring scheme that would allow graduates to learn in a safe and supportive environment as they begin to practice dentistry. The IDA believes the Minister for Health should ring-fence a budget of €3 million per annum to fund a defined number of training places per year.
There is also a need for the government to properly fund Irish dental schools, including the opening of a new dental school in University College Cork (UCC) and to limit the number of non-EEA students who make up a large proportion of dental students at UCC and Trinity College Dublin.
Approximately 40% of total dental student intake is from outside the EEA. While these students contribute significantly to funding, the vast majority do not remain in Ireland post-graduation in time of serious staffing shortages.
IDA CEO Fintan Hourihan stated “It is clear that we more and more patients are facing difficulties in accessing dental care due to costs and the shortage of dentist and dental professionals. We face a range of prolonged crises from retention and recruitment, to underfunding and a lack of dental infrastructure. We ask the Minister and Department of Health to closely consider these proposals as we face into the 2026 budgetary cycle.
Oral health is absolutely vital to living a long and healthy life, it cannot be treated as a luxury or as an optional bonus in the provision of public healthcare.”
Why oral health is the gateway to whole-body wellness
You might be proud of your pearly whites, but a gleaming smile isn’t just the latest cosmetic obsession – taking care of your teeth can also have significant knock-on effects for your overall health and longevity.
That’s the message that Dr Vanessa Creavan, co-founder of Spotlight Oral Care, is passionate about. “Yes, it may matter to someone that their teeth are straight and shiny, she notes, but the overall priority should be good oral health, given that the mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body.”
Poor oral health, the dentist says, has been linked to serious issues like heart disease, diabetes, pregnancy complications, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
“Also, if your gums are inflamed, that inflammation doesn’t just stay in your mouth; it travels,” Creaven points out.
“Looking after your oral health isn’t just about teeth, it’s about your whole system. The medical and dental professions are united on this, given the strong clinical research linking gum disease (periodontitis) and the resulting chronic inflammation to an increased risk of heart problems, strokes, and poor diabetes control,” she adds.
The connection between gum disease and chronic inflammation has been widely studied. “Gum disease is a chronic bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the gums and supporting tissues,” Creaven explains: “When untreated, that inflammation becomes systemic, meaning it can travel and impact organs throughout the body.”
The evidence is stark. Studies show that this chronic low-level inflammation can contribute to cardiovascular disease, with people suffering from gum disease up to two to three times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke, while bacteria originating in the mouth (like Porphyromonas gingivalis) have been found in arterial plaques, the same plaques that clog arteries and cause cardiovascular events like strokes or heart attacks.
Creaven also highlights the bidirectional relationship between oral health and diabetes; people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease, while gum disease also makes it harder to control blood sugar levels.
“Treating periodontitis can actually improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetics, as it has been shown that HbA1c levels can drop after professional dental care,” she explains.
Maintaining optimum oral health during pregnancy is also critical; the association between gum health and pregnancy complications has been extensively studied. Poor gum health is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia.
“The proposed reasoning is oral bacteria entering the bloodstream and triggering systemic inflammation that affects the placenta,” says Creaven.
In 2019, Porphyromonas gingivalis was identified in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and animal studies have also shown that oral infection with this bacteria can result in brain inflammation and amyloid plaque formation.
Despite this mountain of evidence, most people simply consider their teeth from a cosmetic perspective. But Creaven believes the tide on this is finally turning, as health issues become more topical; “There is a growing awareness of the broader health implications of suboptimal oral and gum health.”
As the co-creator of Spotlight Oral Care, Creaven was keen to develop a range of products that would help people easily but effectively look after their teeth and all-round oral health. “Over the years, Spotlight Oral Care has evolved to give people everything they need to care for their teeth, not solely from a cosmetic angle, but supporting their overall oral health,” she explains.
“We started with a few targeted solutions, but now our range covers every stage of a daily oral care routine, from clinically formulated toothpastes to innovative whitening and care products. For me, that’s so important, because cosmetic results should never come at the expense of long-term health and the two should go hand in hand.”
For most people, focusing on oral health requires a simple – but consistent – daily routine. Creaven recommends brushing twice a day with a good quality sonic electric toothbrush and a fluoride-based toothpaste, while daily flossing is non-negotiable.
“You can use a water flosser or manual floss; either way, this step makes a significant difference to gum health.” Those who like using mouthwash should do so at lunchtime, she suggests – an alcohol-free one with fluoride is the best choice.
“But don’t rinse straight after brushing, as you’ll wash away the fluoride and other active ingredients in the toothpaste,” she warns. Creaven is dismissive of the growing trend of dental products containing charcoal, saying it can be damaging to tooth enamel, as can supposed home tooth whitening treatments involving baking soda, which can be hugely abrasive, damaging teeth and gums and increasing sensitivity.
“I would certainly encourage everyone to avoid home remedies.” It’s no surprise to learn that a sweet tooth isn’t a good thing when it comes to oral health, but Creaven warns against sticky sugars like toffee, jellies, and dried fruits in particular, as these sit on your teeth for extended periods of time, causing even more damage. As for fizzy or carbonated drinks, even the sugar-free ones should be avoided, as the acidity weakens tooth enamel.
Creaven also advises against frequent snacking: “Every time you eat, you trigger acid in the mouth. Grazing all day is hard on enamel,” she says.
“It’s not just what you eat – it’s how often. Frequency is worse than quantity.” Unsurprisingly, Creaven advocates regular visits to the dentist and hygienist – ideally every six months.
“If you have had a history of gum disease, I would advise every three to four months. One free visit a year is great, and you can qualify for one using your PRSI credits in certain situations. Gum disease can become an issue as we age, so it’s important to continue regular cleanings and check-ups with your dentist.”
Oral health is not just what happens in the dentist’s chair – it’s someone’s daily routine that will make the difference. As a dentist and co-founder, Creaven says her goal has always been to make professional-level care accessible, sustainable, and effective.
“I want people to feel confident in their smile, knowing it’s healthy from the inside out. That’s the philosophy behind every product we create.”
RCSI Dental Programme and 2025 Student Intake
The Dental Council has been engaging with the new RCSI BDS programme since 2022 and it recognises that the RCSI has made good progress in building its programme to date. This good-faith, collaborative and ongoing engagement is intended to maximise the opportunity of the programme meeting the Dental Council’s undergraduate requirements. The Council is satisfied with the progress to date and the Council endorsed the proposed intake of students to the programme in 2025 on foot of this progress.
The intention of our engagement with the RCSI is to establish alignment between the Dental Council’s educational standards and the RCSI programme’s development. As with all new programmes, elements will continue to evolve over time, and our collaborative engagement is designed to ensure that these developments are introduced in a timely manner and remain consistent with the Dental Council’s regulatory standards. Prospective students should note, however, that the risk of delayed accreditation cannot be entirely mitigated.
As an independent regulator, it would not be appropriate to comment on the future likelihood of a programme meeting accreditation standards as this would undermine the objectivity of the regulatory process.
The approach the Dental Council is taking with the RCSI BDS programme reflects the fact that the programme is new, and it is the same approach Council takes with all new registerable programmes. It does not reflect any concerns with the progress being made by RCSI to date but instead is an approach designed to build confidence towards accreditation.
Students and the parents of students should note the following regarding registering as a dentist in Ireland or abroad:
Registration in Ireland and Recognition in Europe
The Dental Council notes the progress to date and RCSI’s collaborative approach to accreditation. Based on the progress to date, the RCSI has informed the Dental Council that it expects that students entering the programme in September 2025 will be eligible to graduate and register with the Dental Council in 2030. This is subject to all elements of RCSI’s programme evolving in a timely manner and Dental Council’s undergraduate requirements being fully met.
While this assurance is welcome, with regard to the 2025 intake registering as a dentist in June 2030, the Dental Council will only be able to determine this with a degree of certainty when it completes its assessments in 2029 and 2030. The Dental Council will complete a number of scheduled reviews as well as its regular and ongoing monitoring as the programme develops to ensure progress is on track.
Subject to RCSI meeting the required educational standards, including accreditation by the Dental Council and compliance with the conditions set out in the Directive, the qualification will be recognised under the EU’s Professional Qualifications Directive.
Dental Council’s Reciprocal Agreements / Broader International Recognition
The RCSI programme is not currently part of our reciprocity agreement with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada or the Dental Council of New Zealand. Any students joining the programme in 2025 will not be able to automatically avail of the benefits of our agreement with our partners on graduation.
Any future consideration of this matter can only happen after the Dental Council has fully accredited the programme. It is also important to note that our international partners need to consent to the inclusion of any new programmes in the reciprocity agreements. The Dental Council cannot comment on when this might happen.
Recognition of the programme outside of the EU and beyond existing reciprocity agreements is a matter for the Dental Council of each individual country.
Irish Dental Association welcomes Dáil debate on dental services and calls for urgent action on oral healthcare deficits
The Irish Dental Association (IDA) welcomes the contributions made during today’s – Wednesday 16th July – Dáil debate on dental services as introduced by Deputy Brian Stanley as a timely and necessary spotlight on long-standing failures in the public dental system — failures that are now severely impacting access to care, particularly for children and vulnerable groups.
The Association has consistently highlighted the urgent need for reform, investment and workforce planning across public dental services. A properly funded and resourced public dental system is vital to delivering timely, preventive, and equitable oral healthcare. Today, it is in a state of crisis.
We welcome the contribution of so many Deputies who highlighted powerful individual cases from across their constituencies in the struggles they and their children have faced in securing access to public dental services. This is an ongoing reality that the Association has heard from our members consistently in recent years.
It is deeply concerning that core services — including the school dental screening programme — are effectively non-functional in many parts of the country. Latest figures show that over 104,000 children are not receiving the oral health checks they are entitled to, a situation that is both unacceptable yet should be entirely avoidable.
Compounding the issue are broader training and staffing challenges. As the Dáil heard today, Ireland continues to operate with too few dental training places relative to population need. In the absence of adequate funding, our Dental Schools are having to rely on a disproportionate allocation to non-EU trainees, the majority of whom leave the country following the completion of their training.
Access pathways for fully qualified non-EU dentists and associated professions through the Critical Skills List remain excessively restrictive, depriving the system of much-needed talent that could be helping to reduce waiting lists and restore core services. We continue to call on the Minister and Department to urgently update the Critical Skills List to alleviate some of the pressure on our dental practices and support recruitment in the sector.
While today’s motion in the Oireachtas is a welcome step in highlighting the serious issues facing the dental sector, the time for action is now.
The Government must move forward with immediate reforms and sustained investment in public dental care without delay, starting with the publication of the implementation plan for Smile agus Slainte, our national oral healthcare policy. Our members are committed to delivering high-quality care to all sectors of society — but they must be given the resources and policy support to do so.
We stand ready to work collaboratively and constructively with Government, the Department of Health, the HSE, and all stakeholders to ensure that any reform is meaningful, sustainable, and in the best interests of both patients and the profession.
We would like to thank all Deputies for their contributions today in highlighting the crisis in our oral healthcare services and the real-world manifestations of oral health policies which are no longer fit for purpose.
Irish Dental Association calls for extra funding after €800 million cuts in spending to enable oral health reforms
The Irish Dental Association is calling for significant increases in oral health funding in order to support positive ongoing oral health reforms by the Department of Health. This follows a €800 million cut in state spending on dental care for PRSI and Medical Card patients between 2009 and 2023.
This €800 million deficit in funding represents a lost decade in dental care, which has compounded negative health outcomes for the poorest and most vulnerable in our society.
In addition, 104,000 eligible schoolchildren in Ireland were denied dental screening appointments by the HSE dental service in 2023 due to a shortage of public-only dentists employed by the HSE. This represents roughly half of the eligible cohort denied vital dental appointments.
Under the current system, there is a widening gap between those who can afford to access dentistry by private means and those who are left at the mercy of a public system which is underfunded and not fit for purpose.
The new Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has demonstrated a welcome commitment to reform of the oral healthcare system. The Irish Dental Association believes that significant extra funding is needed to realise the full potential of the National Oral Health Policy – Smile agus Sláinte – and to ensure that a successor to the Dental Treatment Service Scheme for medical card patients is fit for purpose.
Dr. Will Rymer, President of the Irish Dental Association stated; “Oral health is a vital indicator of the overall health and wellbeing of the general population. We are calling on the Government to fully fund oral health services in order to make up for a lost decade in dental care, representing a running deficit of €800 million in investment.
“The failure of consecutive Governments to fully fund oral healthcare services has only increased the outstanding burden of treatment needed across the country.
“We will not accept a system that fails to adequately address the needs of our patients. As an Association, we will continue to push for a modern, sustainable model of dental car – one that values prevention as much as treatment and one that is accessible to all, including those marginalised in our society.
“As the Smile agus Sláintecare implementation plan is being finalised, we must ensure that it is backed by necessary funding from the Department of Finance”
Overall, there are currently 800 fewer dentists on the Dental Treatment Services Scheme in comparison to 2012, this is despite a population growth of over 15% in Ireland.
New President of Irish Dental Association welcomes new laws allowing greater protections for patients in Ireland from this week
The Irish Dental Association has announced Dr Will Rymer as its new President at the Association’s AGM in Dublin.
A practicing dentist in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Dr Rymer takes over from outgoing President Dr Rory Boyd who has completed his term.
At the Irish Dental Association’s AGM, Dr Rymer set out his priorities for the year ahead during his inaugural speech, while welcoming greater protections for patients which forces greater transparency on dentists who have been the subject of disciplinary measures outside Ireland.
Dr Rymer also indicated his commitment to continue to campaign for further reforms within dentistry including the requirement for statutory Continual Professional Development (CPD) to bring dentistry in line with all other healthcare professionals, and the introduction of a structured mentoring scheme, as is international best practice, where new dental graduates – and new practicing dentists arriving in Ireland – can gain critical experience in a mentored environment.
Commenting on his appointment, President Will Rymer said:
“For the first time in a long time, we’re seeing a genuine willingness from stakeholders – public and private, government and practitioners – to confront the cracks in the oral healthcare system. The recent efforts toward reimagining the relationship between the HSE dentists and private practice are encouraging and the opportunity for reform is real.
“Among my immediate priorities will be to carry the messages from this AGM to the Department of Health and Minister. We are happy to see that the Minister has signed a commencement order this week for the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Bill 2019 which brings into force a number of critical provisions to underpin patient safety.
“At the centre of this is legislating for enhanced powers for the Dental Council to tackle dentists arriving into Ireland who have had sanctions or limitations applied to their practice elsewhere in the EU and beyond.
“By signing this commencement order, the Minister has shown her commitment to promoting the highest standards of care and enhanced patient safety within our profession.”
In his inaugural address, Dr Rymer also acknowledged that there are other aspects of dental legislation that require attention as soon as possible.
“Right now, legislation does not require dentists and dental auxiliary workers to maintain a professional competency. This means that while dentists are ethically obliged to maintain an ongoing competence, this is not underpinned by legislation.
“In this way, dentistry is so clearly out-of-step with all other regulated healthcare professions in not having a statutory continued professional development (CPD) scheme, and patients may be unknowingly at risk of poor practice based on out-of-date knowledge or techniques.
“We are advocating for there to be a requirement on dentists and dental auxiliary workers to maintain professional competence on a statutory footing, which can be done without any additional financial cost to the state.”