Orthodontist sold on used kids' dental braces

soundbyte · 22-11-2013 01:43PM #1

This is absolutely disgusting. Imagine having someone else's braces in your mouth. And the guy managed to keep his job? Stay classy HSE.

A rogue HSE teeth specialist has left a sour taste in the mouths of potentially hundreds of kids – by taking dental braces that have been worn for up to two years and selling them on for re-use.

And when caught by bosses, the greedy orthodontist – who is understood to have been earning around €140,000 per year from his job – was moved to another department.

Link: http://www.connachttribune.ie/galway-news/item/1817-rogue-dentist-leaves-a-bad-taste

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 22-11-2013 01:48PM

well i assume he washed them first..

josip · 22-11-2013 01:48PM

Next time I go to a restaurant I'm going to insist on new forks and spoons.

SEPT 23 1989 · 22-11-2013 01:49PM

moved to another department:rolleyes:

mikom · 22-11-2013 01:49PM

Brace yourself, the puns are coming.......

frag420 · 22-11-2013 01:54PM

He should get a plaque for being so frugal!!

ballsymchugh · 22-11-2013 01:58PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

well i assume he washed them first..

wiped them on his sleeve.

Zombienosh · 22-11-2013 02:03PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

well i assume he washed them first..

spit shine.

anncoates · 22-11-2013 02:05PM

Sure, would they know the difference unless they were told?

The Dom · 22-11-2013 02:05PM

soundbyte wrote: »

Imagine having someone else's braces in your mouth.

Be nothing on it that mightn't also be on a tongue but yet people have no problem getting others to stick those in their mouth.

Lucky beggers.

EDIT: Have just realised now that it could be constred that was referring to childer's tongues. For the record. I was doing no such thing.

seamus · 22-11-2013 02:12PM

To be fair, if they're properly cleaned and treated, there's no reason they couldn't be reused. Though it's probably in contravention of some medical rules on re-use of equipment. It's quite safe and sanitary though.

Really the issue here is that he was selling on HSE property for his own gain instead of destroying it, and the private orthodontist on the far side was presumbaly charging his patients the cost of new braces.

castletownman · 22-11-2013 02:14PM

The rogue was probably importing lidocaine as a front for importing drugs too

Neyite · 22-11-2013 02:20PM

seamus wrote: »

To be fair, if they're properly cleaned and treated, there's no reason they couldn't be reused. Though it's probably in contravention of some medical rules on re-use of equipment. It's quite safe and sanitary though.

Really the issue here is that he was selling on HSE property for his own gain instead of destroying it, and the private orthodontist on the far side was presumbaly charging his patients the cost of new braces.

The HSE wont reuse crutches.

Kidchameleon · 22-11-2013 02:26PM

castletownman wrote: »

The rogue was probably importing lidocaine as a front for importing drugs too

He'd be wise to pack his suitcase and leave the country...

smileyj1987 · 22-11-2013 02:41PM

Ah come on don't give the bloke a had time with money saving measures like that we could be rich again soon

josip · 22-11-2013 02:45PM

smileyj1987 wrote: »

Ah come on don't give the bloke a had time with money saving measures like that he could be rich again soon

FYP

Stheno · 22-11-2013 02:50PM

Neyite wrote: »

The HSE wont reuse crutches.

That's because the rubber tips on the bottom wear down to half nothing and it's the crutch equivalent of driving on bald tyres.

I was getting treatment and on crutches last year for 4.5 months and went through four pairs due to wear on the tips

Neyite · 22-11-2013 02:55PM

Stheno wrote: »

That's because the rubber tips on the bottom wear down to half nothing and it's the crutch equivalent of driving on bald tyres.

I was getting treatment and on crutches last year for 4.5 months and went through four pairs due to wear on the tips

Makes sense. I'd say braces would have a bit of wear and tear too.

seamus · 22-11-2013 02:55PM

Stheno wrote: »

That's because the rubber tips on the bottom wear down to half nothing and it's the crutch equivalent of driving on bald tyres.

I was getting treatment and on crutches last year for 4.5 months and went through four pairs due to wear on the tips

http://www.themobilityshop.ie/rubber-ferrules.html

No need to replace the whole crutch.

ballsymchugh · 22-11-2013 02:57PM

Neyite wrote: »

Makes sense. I'd say braces would have a bit of wear and tear too.

no, it's purely hygiene. normal brackets for train tracks don't wear down. some of the modern fandangled ones might do. the HSE wouldn't be using those.

Stheno · 22-11-2013 02:57PM

seamus wrote: »

http://www.themobilityshop.ie/rubber-ferrules.html

No need to replace the whole crutch.

I know, and each time I'd to shell out for a new pair, I asked why I couldn't just get new tips, and was told it was not policy as there was no guarantee they would be safe as they could not be sure they would be suitable for my particular crutches.

Bit of a racket

tin79 · 22-11-2013 02:59PM

No worse than using cutlery in a restaurant that has probably been in hundreds of other mouths.

smileyj1987 · 22-11-2013 03:11PM

Stheno wrote: »

I know, and each time I'd to shell out for a new pair, I asked why I couldn't just get new tips, and was told it was not policy as there was no guarantee they would be safe as they could not be sure they would be suitable for my particular crutches.

Bit of a racket

That's actually a great point on waste of money that's hitting your pocket . Re tip the crutches and be done with it . Same goes for things like braces and that sterilise them for a few days and re use them . My bro had to get braces last year and they cost 3000 . If a cheaper way to do it could have been done I'm sure my parents would have shelled out for the cheaper option first

UCDVet · 22-11-2013 03:27PM

I have no problem with used braces. We reuse all sorts of stuff, including medical equipment used in operations. So long as they are fit for service and cleaned properly, there is no problem.

Assuming it was disclosed that they were used. If he was selling used items and calling them new/charging a new price - that is fraud and he should be sent to jail.

Sleepy · 22-11-2013 04:02PM

Surely just the tips can be replaced though Steno? We don't scrap a car because the tyres wear out (much as I'm sure ISME would love us to). It seems idiotic to throw out something that can potentially be re-used.

I thought braces had to be specifically moulded to one's mouth? Or is that just retainers? I can certainly remember having full mouth casts taken when I had them as a teenager.

CrazyRabbit · 22-11-2013 04:14PM

Jesus...what's next...reusing dead people's organs by putting them inside other people?

Neyite · 22-11-2013 06:09PM

UCDVet wrote: »

I have no problem with used braces. We reuse all sorts of stuff, including medical equipment used in operations. So long as they are fit for service and cleaned properly, there is no problem.

Assuming it was disclosed that they were used. If he was selling used items and calling them new/charging a new price - that is fraud and he should be sent to jail.

Also, they werent his to sell. They belonged to the HSE, whether they were due to be incinerated or not. So theft as well as fraud.

I'd be fcuking raging if I had paid out thousands for expensive braces to a private orthodontist and found out that they were charging me for new ones but really using old ones for a fraction of the cost.

No problem with using second hand stuff, but charge second hand prices too, and be upfront about it.

If we went into a shop and paid for a brand new phone or laptop, only to discover that it had been used for up to 2 years by someone else, rescued from scrap and sold to you for the full price again. you'd be raging because you were duped. No different to this case.

Artful_Badger · 22-11-2013 06:50PM

Instead following standard procedure and destroying the braces, he effectively stole them and sold them to private practitioners to pocket the cash.

What am I missing ? Why are so many defending this rat bastard ?

AngeGal · 23-11-2013 12:30AM

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Instead following standard procedure and destroying the braces, he effectively stole them and sold them to private practitioners to pocket the cash.

What am I missing ? Why are so many defending this rat bastard ?

Don't understand either, the guy needs to be fired immediately. It's abhorrent, the most suprising part for me was that it happened in 2006 and he was discipline but not fired, do ya need to shoot someone to get fired or what?! The dentist who bought them should face severe sanctions too, absolutely disgusting!

Boombastic · 23-11-2013 12:35AM

another loveable rogue in the hse, lets move him to another department...

professore · 23-11-2013 12:40AM

AngeGal wrote: »

Don't understand either, the guy needs to be fired immediately. It's abhorrent, the most suprising part for me was that it happened in 2006 and he was discipline but not fired, do ya need to shoot someone to get fired or what?! The dentist who bought them should face severe sanctions too, absolutely disgusting!

That's the nub of the matter for me, and the whole problem with the public sector. Doesn't matter how badly you screw up, unless you kill someone, maybe, you will be sacked. Even then you get to keep your pension. If that one small change was made, that incompetence or fraud was met with sacking, it would make life better for everyone, including honest hard working employees.

Orthodontist sold on used kids' dental braces

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