Dentists - where have they all gone??

I’ve a sharp pain in a tooth, normally just contact Smiles Dundrum, taken care of by my lovely dentist or a colleague shortly. Have a complex medical history, they account for that..

I tried to book an appointment there now, they don’t seem to do ordinary dentistry any more!

Strumms

There is a chronic shortage of dentists…

also…

A chronic shortage of places to study dentistry.

From my research…. The Irish dental association determine….

“There are at least 500 extra dentists needed across the private sector and public service immediately to meet the needs of a rising population and to replace retiring dentists. In 2016 there were 45 dentists per 100,000 population in Ireland, which left Ireland in the bottom quintile of OECD countries.”

So you can imagine, with the population increasing as it has and will continue to…

Also, with a rise in the demand for implant and restorative specialty dentistry, there is unbelievably big money to be made there too so that might also be a reason why regular dentistry is harder to acquire.. because lots of dentists are getting into that work..

maninasia

Where is ...'insert profession of choice'....gone?

ottolwinner

People want to be famous or YouTubers these days apparently. Ask any child?

Scipri0

I got a "crown" on a molar in around May and now to this day i still have sensitivity. I paid €850 and have gone back over 4 times now as the sensitivity in the tooth is the same as i can't eat on that tooth. I was told that i might need a roots canal on the tooth if it doesn't improve by February and this is by a supposed well dentist clinical in cork city centre and the waiting list could be a long while as it's a molar.

Skyrimaddict

I used to work at a high level in a large dental company.

The reason for so few in Ireland is that they simply dont have that much places to study, as in places in the class. Its limited to around a few hundred spaces a year here. I was told by an old retired dentist at a convention one day it was to keep the points needed high and the supply low.

As a side note, if anyone does want to become a dentist, go study in Bulgaria where they have a world-class dental college, even by Irish standards, you dont need points, only a tough entrance exam, and then a 4 year degree. The qualification is internationally recognised so you can work anywhere. The last dentist I know who did this, said all in, it cost his family 38K for four years study and accommodation/meals.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121435989#Comment_121435989

Pathetic.

Dentristy has extremely restricted qualifications, even to study and a limited number of places. Most people won't come close to scoring the requisite points.

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058325049/dentists-where-have-they-all-gone

Did you try to book it for 2:30?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436811#Comment_121436811

This is what I get when I click the book an appointment - orthodontic only. The irony is that just over a year ago they were sending me texts and reminders to book my routine appointment. This absolute dearth of ordinary dentists has happened quite suddenly.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436838#Comment_121436838

Whoosh......

2.30. two thirty....tooth hurty!!!!

Mrs OBumble

A physio told me that many of the people now studying dentistry actually only want to practise appearance medicine: Dentistry is just the easiest way to get the medical license they need to do it.

Don't know how true it is.

BrianD3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436553#Comment_121436553

Much less than a few hundred a year, TCD intake is 32 per year and I can't find an exact figure for UCC but it seems to be around 40.

In 2022 the points required for both course was 625* i.e. a 6 x H1 Leaving Cert was not enough to guarantee a place. In 2023 the points came down slightly to "only" 625 and 613*.

You don't need to be a genius to be a dentist, but to have a good eye and good dexterity coupled with a reasonably smart brain to understand the science. Crazy stuff that entry to a largely practical skill is based on top level academic achievement

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436998#Comment_121436998

All fair unless you get a A1s across the board, it's not going to happen. It's daft that if you're not fluent in Irish, you could be ineligible to study in Ireland.

SuperBowserWorld

....

Skyrimaddict

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436897#Comment_121436897

Very from my experience. There is serious money to be made in the appearance side, Mind you lots who are very good at dental work go into the specialist surgical side and that is SERIOUS money

The_Honeybadger

Waiting list to get in anywhere near me for routine dental stuff is months. Our family dentist is a practice with 4 full time dentists and an hygienist and they are actually closed for new patients because of backlog.

Doctors seem to be going the same way.

odyssey06

Some very valid points made.

As this is AH, I will add... and no one will write a song bemoaning Where have all the Dentists gone.

blackbox

A lot of high achieving young people are attracted to dentistry simply because of the high points requirement and the prospect of a good income.

The reality is that for many people it is a highly stressful occupation and they give it up after a number of years in practice.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121437236#Comment_121437236

Would be a good song title in fairness.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121437113#Comment_121437113

I can at least get an appointment during the week or sooner (eg if I had a lung infection) with my own GP. It wasn’t long ago when the dentist was begging me to attend, this seems to have happened relatively lately, though I heard mention of it. Maybe time I went abroad for a couple of days for routine dentistry 🧐 eg Bulgaria, Hungary etc

ottolwinner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436702#Comment_121436702

What’s pathetic about it?

Ezeoul

After over 2 years, my (wonderful) dentist finally had her HSE contract renewed about two weeks ago. I honestly thought it was never going to happen.

She is now desperately trying to see as many of her waiting list of GMS patients before the end of the year.

Finding a dentist has really become difficult in this country. I needed to go to her twice in the interim for pain, and paid for the treatment despite having a medical card, but that option might not be possible for others.

God help anyone with a dental emergency.

RedXIV

I moved to my home town after 15 years with a family and in a relatively large town in the south east, with 4 dental clinics in the town, not one is taking patients now which is frustrating. I want to get my youngest a check up but I was told I would need to travel an hour to get one which is looking like my only option now.

JohnFalstaff

Our local dentist in South County Dublin started offering botox injections as a sideline a couple of years back. Last time I was there for an appointment he informed me that I would need to find a new dentist as he was discontinuing his dental practice to focus exclusively on the botox and fillers. Apparently many well-established dentists have made the same decision in recent years.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121440484#Comment_121440484

There are several dental practices doing the same thing. Probably making as much money or more with a lot less labor intensive activity…and a lot less costs…. Imagine the savings….

which shows there is a real lack of effective governance of the dental industry.

Dentistry is oral healthcare. Why they allowed to branch into anything else is weird….

Botox treatments are apart from the lips which is oral are facial treatments in the main.

Dentistry is exclusively oral healthcare.

I know some doctors surgeries have a physio but that’s still physical health, same as if they have a dietitian…

in my view licences should be revoked if they are dabbling in other healthcare services, or selling blow up dolls, marrying people or selling ice cream. It’s hard enough get a dentist without that carry on.

odyssey06

Hmm, strikes me that the government doesn't take responsibility for provision of dental services, but seems to have effectively taken ownership of the education \ training process and artificially reduced the number of dentists that qualify. So they're creating a problem but not taking ownership of it.

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436838#Comment_121436838

OP I just looked there & it gave me an option above that for "Dental Checkup". Maybe try again.

Francis McM

If dentists worked a normal 5 day working week it would help too. There would not be a scarcity of dental appointments when you go looking for one then. I know a few dentists, one in particular only worked 3 to 4 days a week, the other worked 4 days a week. Plenty of time off for sport, plenty of holidays ( one had an apartment abroad ). I suppose if I was looking in to peoples mouths all day long I would want the same.

I wouldn’t mind but the MS consultant said to get dental issues fixed without delay as they can have a very serious effect, same as people with other serious illnesses like cancer.

As a poster above said dentists were licensed to give oral healthcare, including evaluating oral cancers, and I have a relative in US who died of dental related sepsis.

No way should de that’s be goi g I to Botox. I’m being cynical here but maybe a recession would reduce the heavy demand for cavity and get more dentists into bread & butter work, that they trained to do.

Tow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121441640#Comment_121441640

There are several other dentists on the Dundrum Main Street and an Orthodontist in behind the Bank of Ireland. No exactly a shortage.