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The Journal of the Irish Dental Association is the official publication of the Irish Dental Association. The opinions expressed in the Journal are, however, those of the authors and cannot be construed as reflecting the Association’s views. The editor reserves the right to edit all copy submitted to the Journal. Publication of an advertisement or news item does not necessarily imply that the IDA agrees with or supports the claims therein. For advice to authors, please see: https://jida.scholasticahq.com/for-authors.
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Journal of the Irish Dental Association
October/November 2025
213 President’s news
Unity must be dentistry’s guiding principle
Retention and recruitment of dentists is critical
Upcoming IDA CPD; pension auto-enrolment
The IDA continues its work representing the profession
Published on behalf of the IDA by Think Media, 537 NCR, Dublin 1.
There is evidence of fractures across our profession, between public and private practice, general practitioners and specialists, and practice owners and associates. Each group has its own challenges, but if we approach them in isolation, we dilute our influence and risk failing both the profession and our patients.
The IDA’s general practitioners vision policy makes clear the depths of the crisis. Waiting lists for treatment are at an unacceptable level, participation in State schemes is collapsing, and a workforce shortage threatens the sustainability of services. At the same time, decades of underinvestment in dental schools and the absence of structured mentoring for graduates have le the profession struggling to renew itself. The message is unambiguous: unless we respond collectively, the cracks in the system will only widen.
The Association’s broader framework, towards sustainable oral health services/delivering the WHO oral healthcare strategy for Ireland, sets out how we must move forward. It calls for explicit political and financial commitment, collaborative governance, and the creation of “win-win” partnerships. Crucially, it aligns Ireland with the World Health Organization’s vision of universal access to prevention-focused, people-centred care.
Both documents reinforce the same truth: dentistry cannot afford division. Acting unilaterally, whether as individuals or subgroups, weakens our negotiating power and risks undermining our credibility. By contrast, a unified profession can make a compelling case for properly funded, sustainable oral health services that protect patients and support practitioners.
That unity must be more than symbolic. It requires general practitioners, Health Service Executive dentists, academics, and specialists to work together. It demands that we prioritise mentorship and workforce planning, ensuring that new graduates are supported and retained. That obliges us to advocate not just for our own professional interests, but for a system that delivers equitable access to care across all communities.
The challenges are significant, but so is the opportunity. For the first time in years, there is an opening to reset the course of Irish oral healthcare. If we act with unity and purpose, guided by the principles laid out in our policy documents, we can secure a sustainable, patient-centred system worthy of our profession’s commitment.
Dr Will Rymer
IDA President
Dentists played a key role in our recent campaign on the need to increase the number of dental school places available to Irish school leavers.
The powerful testimonies of our members added huge weight to our messaging. Ennis-based Dr Barry Hillery and his son Sean, who is currently studying dentistry in Valencia, Spain, featured on RTÉ TV news coverage, while Siobhán Kelly from Co. Monaghan, studying at the University of Lodz in Poland, was also interviewed. The IDA is calling for a cap on the number of international students studying dentistry in Ireland because of the limited number of places available through the CAO system. Fewer than 100 places on courses in Dublin and Cork are available through the CAO; however, 841 students had dentistry as their first preference. This resulted in places being allocated on a lottery basis, with many students who met very high points standards missing out.
From the 1980s until more recent times, around 20% of undergraduate dental places were taken up by students from overseas. More recently, almost 50% of dentistry places in Ireland have gone to applicants from outside the EU, usually from Asia and Canada. This increase 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 fees.
While these students contribute greatly during their time here, most return to their home countries to begin their careers.
Dentistry is facing one of the most severe recruitment and retention crises in Irish healthcare, and this is already seriously impacting patients’ ability to access timely care. Our staffing 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 that there had been a deficit of €800m in public spending on dental services.
Oral health has simply not been prioritised in Irish health policy, despite its central role in overall health and well-being. 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.
Fintan Hourihan IDA CEO
Dr Jason Smithson returns to Dublin for two-day course
In association with Kulzer, the IDA is delighted to bring the renowned Dr Jason Smithson back to Dublin for a two-day course in November. The course, entitled ‘Advanced Direct Resin in the Anterior Dentition:
Approaching the Complex Case’ will take place in the Hilton Hotel, Charlemont, Dublin 2, on November 14 and 15. Jason’s previous courses all sold out and were very well received. Book today as places are limited.
To book, go to www.dentist.ie and choose ‘Book CPD’.
Dental Council elections
The term of office of the current elected members of the Dental Council expires on November 12, 2025. There are 19 people on the Council and seven of these are elected directly by the profession to serve a five-year term.
Nominations for Council positions closed on September 24. Ballot papers were issued by October 3, and the poll closes on October 22 at 1.00pm.
Scan the QR code for further details.,
SAVE THE DATE:
CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY IN A DAY
Friday, November 21, Hilton Hotel, Charlemont, Dublin 2.
One-day seminar aimed at dentists treating children in their practice, both public and private.
Learn contemporary techniques in paediatric dentistry through presentations and practical demonstrations.
Leading paediatric experts covering topics from early childhood caries and the Hall crown technique to management of childhood cancer and behaviour guidance.
Table demonstrations/small group discussions and trade show.
Book at www.dentist.ie and don’t miss this essential event.
EDUCATION/CPD AUTUMN/WINTER PROGRAMME
Sign up now for one of the IDA’s exciting CPD events.
OCTOBER 2025
October 16 – South East Region meeting, Lyrath Estate, 7.30pm
October 16-17 – HSE Dental Surgeons Seminar, Hotel Kilkenny
October 29 – Webinar, 8.00pm
NOVEMBER 2025
November 7 – Southern Region Annual Scientific Meeting, Fota Island Resort
November 13 – South East Region meeting, Brandon House, New Ross, 7.30pm
November 14 – Kerry Voices 7, The Europe Hotel & Resort, Killarney
November 14-15 – Composites course, Hilton Hotel, Charlemont, Dublin 2
November 21 – Paediatric Dentistry in a Day, Hilton Hotel, Charlemont, Dublin 2
November 26 – Webinar, 8.00pm
November 26 – Northwestern Region meeting
November 28 – Endodontics and facial pain hands-on course, Sandyford, Dublin 18
To book these events, go to www.dentist.ie and click on ‘BOOK CPD’.
DECEMBER 2025
December 10 – Webinar, 8.00pm
December 11 – Southern Region meeting, Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, 7.00pm
Annual HSE Dental Surgeons Seminar
SEMINAR 2025
Will you be going to the ball?
The HSE Dental Surgeons Group Annual Seminar heads back to the south east and the popular Hotel Kilkenny on October 15-16. A full two days of presentations on topics relevant to those working in the HSE service will take place, as well as practical workshops on Friday aernoon. Don’t miss it – BOOK TODAY. It is strongly advised to book accommodation as detailed in the programme as early as possible.
The Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year Awards take place on Saturday, November 8, at the InterContinetal Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. This glamourous Gala Ball is the highlight of dentistry’s social calendar each year, and an outstanding opportunity for dental practices to attend with the entire team and celebrate all that is great about Irish dentistry. It is an ideal opportunity to say thank you to your hardworking dental team and at a fun-filled and stylish event in the beautiful surroundings of the InterContinental Hotel.
Tickets are on sale now at www.dentist.ie. Tables are for 10 guests, but tickets can be purchased individually. Don’t miss out on this year’s fantastic event!
Pension auto-enrolment: key information for employers
Auto-Enrolment (AE) will begin on January 1, 2026. From this date, any employee aged 23 or over earning more than €20,000 per year will automatically be enrolled into My Future Fund.
Contribution rates
n Employers contribute 1.5% of salary; n employees contribute 1.5%; and, n the Government adds a 0.5% top-up
Contribution increases
n Years 4-7: 3% employer + 3% employee + 1% Government; and, n year 10 onwards: 6% employer + 6% employee + 2% Government
Exemptions
Employees already contributing to a pension via payroll (of any amount) are exempt from AE.
Payroll scan
To qualify for exemption, payroll must detect a pension contribution within the 13 weeks prior to January 1.
Opt-out option
Employees may opt out aer six months and receive a refund of their own contributions. Employer contributions will not be refunded.
Employer portal
The online portal for employer submissions will open in December. Employers must complete and submit payment details through this portal.
Tax considerations
Employees paying tax at the 40% rate should consider opting for a standard pension rather than AE. AE is not appropriate for these employees.
Communication with employees
Employers must clearly inform staff about AE and explain the impact on their January payslip. It is important to avoid the first employee query being: “Why is my pay lower this month?”
Employment terms
AE represents a change to employees’ terms and conditions. Contracts and company handbooks should be updated to reflect this.
Employer guide
Scan the QR code for contact details to access the full employer guide.
Media training at IDA House
On Friday, September 19, we welcomed Finn Partners to IDA House for an engaging media training session. Covering both traditional and social media, the workshop was interactive, insightful, and full of practical takeaways. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and made the day a success.
Practice Plus webinars
Essential compliance and business advice webinars for dentists
October 2025 – March 2026
€50 per webinar or €250 for all six webinars
Make sure you’re up to date with your requirements for dental and business regulations by watching our new series of Practice Plus webinars. Webinars will be broadcast on the third Wednesday of every month from October 2025 to March 2026. Topics covered by our experts will include HR and employment law, cyber security, Children First, medical emergencies, and tax matters.
Please log on to www.dentist.ie and choose ‘Book CPD’ from the menu bar to register.
For further information or queries, please email rosalba@irishdentalassoc.ie.
European Endodontic Society
Dr Greg Creavin (le) and Dr Hal Duncan are pictured at the recent meeting of the European Endodontic Society in Paris. Congratulations to Hal, who completed his year as President of the group at the meeting – a wonderful honour for an Irishbased endodontist.
At the IDA’s recent media training day were (from left): Drs Sharon O’Flynn; Charles Gavin; Maura Cuffe; Sarah Edgar; Caroline Stewart; Daniel Linden; and, Ms Molly Conroy, IDA Membership Manager.
IDA meets officials in PRSI fees dispute
An IDA delegation recently met officials from the Department of Social Protection in a bid to resolve the impasse over PRSI fees paid to dentists.
The IDA protested in the strongest terms at the failure to complete the review of fees paid to Dental Treatment Benefit Scheme (DTBS) contract holders for 2024, which is in breach of the Framework Agreement negotiated by the IDA in 2023.
The Association is seeking for a review of fees for 2024 and 2025 to be completed as soon as possible, and has sought significant increases for treatment items, removal of the intra-oral X-ray from the definition of the exam, and the removal of any cap on the payments sought from patients for scale and polish/protracted periodontal treatment (PPT).
A comprehensive submission was presented by the IDA, which contained details of the growing disparity between fees paid under the DTBS benchmarked against private fees, as monitored by the IDA.
The Assistant Secretary of the Department, Mr Hession, explained that the delay was caused by the withholding of funds by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) in 2024, but that talks were continuing with the DPER to secure funding for increases for both 2024 and 2025. We hope that a decision will be announced prior to the Budget in October, and will remain in pursuit of our members’ right to an annual fees review.
Public service dentists update
Sectoral bargaining – CPD allowance
The Association is engaging with the Fórsa trade union to finalise a claim under the sectoral bargaining clause of the Public Service Agreement. The claim will likely include an element of CPD allowance, as well as changes to some increments. This will apply to all serving HSE dental surgeons, including specialist orthodontists.
HSE restructuring
IDA representatives have met with HSE officials to discuss the position of oral health within the restructured HSE Integrated Health Areas (IHAs). We argued that the strategic and appropriate positioning of public oral healthcare services within the new Regional Health Area (RHA) framework must be prioritised. This is essential not only for effective service delivery, but also to uphold the public health mission, safeguard vulnerable populations, and achieve the goals of the national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte.
The IDA’s HSE Committee has draed a document outlining the Association’s proposal for the strategic positioning of oral healthcare in the restructured HSE. This has been presented to the HSE in advance of a meeting in October.
1% pay increase due from August 1, 2025
All IDA members in the public service should have received a pay increase of 1% from August 1, 2025. All members should now have also received the 2% due from March 1, 2025. Retired public service members will have the increases added to their pensions.
If you have any questions about this, please contact Roisín in IDA House.
IDA ramps up efforts to secure specialty status
The Association convened a meeting of specialty society representatives in midSeptember to secure recognition of significant numbers of extra specialties by the Minister for Health.
Following a long campaign on the issue, the IDA secured commitments from the Government parties to act, and the Programme for Government has an explicit promise to provide for the recognition of more dental specialties. The Dental Council has also pledged its support. In preparation for the publication of proposals from the Minister for Health, the IDA has been in contact with specialty societies to co-ordinate our efforts and to assist with next steps. Honorary Treasurer Dr Tiernan O’Brien and IDA Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan hosted a meeting with representatives of over 10 different specialty societies to co-ordinate our respective efforts. We will keep all members updated as we progress this vital issue.
Budget 2026 priorities for IDA
Budget 2026 will be key to unlocking the IDA’s demands for enhanced fees for dentists in the medical card and PRSI schemes.
Funding for the DTBS fees review for 2024 and 2025 will be required within the Budget, which will be announced on October 7.
The Association has also been lobbying for the three-yearly review of Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS or medical card) fees to be commenced this year. The IDA has been told by the Department of Health that proposals for the fees review will be presented shortly.
For both schemes, the IDA has undertaken extensive research benchmarking private fees, and also verifying dental practice costs in support of our demands for significant fees increases under both schemes.
The IDA’s full pre-Budget submission can be read on our website www.dentist.ie
2025 Oral Health Professional Educators’ Awards
On August 26, the Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE), the European Dental Students’ Association (EDSA), and Henry Schein announced the winners of the 2025 Oral Health Professional Educators’ Awards.
Now in its third year, the awards programme recognises outstanding achievements by ADEE member institutions in advancing both environmental sustainability and social responsibility in oral health education and clinical practice.
The Practice Green Award, acknowledging sustainability practices, was awarded to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Faculty of Dentistry, and the University of Sheffield, School of Clinical Dentistry.
The Social Excellence Award, newly introduced this year, celebrates initiatives that improve health outcomes and access to care for underserved communities.
Winners in this category were the Medical University of Plovdiv, and Cardiff University, School of Dentistry.
Prof. Brian O’Connell, ADEE President, commented: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Henry Schein and EDSA to honour the remarkable efforts of our member institutions. This year’s winning submissions demonstrate how oral health education can drive positive environmental and social change, preparing future professionals to make a real impact in the world”.
Zirkonzahn’s new materials for dentures
Zirkonzahn has introduced new polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-based materials in its Abro Basic Multistratum and Denture Gingiva Basic resins, stating that they are particularly biocompatible and health-friendly due to their low residual monomer concentration.
According to Zirkonzahn, Abro Basic Multistratum shows a natural colour gradient from dentine to the enamel, and improved material properties in terms of translucency values, flexural strength, and fracture and abrasion resistance, which make it particularly suited for the manufacture of denture teeth. The company states that it can also be used for long-term temporaries, and various secondary and tertiary structures.
Denture Gingiva Basic resins are, the company states, gingiva-coloured resins specifically conceived for the production of denture bases. Zirkonzahn states that Denture Gingiva Basic Mono offers high fracture resistance and flexural strength, while Denture Gingiva Basic Pro Mono offers excellent fracture resistance with the same level of flexural strength.
The resins are also available in blanks with a diameter of 125mm, allowing two denture bases to be produced in just one milling process.
Radiopaque universal adhesive
According to Solventum, makers of 3M Scotchbond Universal Plus Adhesive, internal data now show that the product offers:
n the first radiopaque universal adhesive, reducing the risk of X-ray misdiagnosis and invasive overtreatment;
n bonding and sealing of caries-affected dentine; n BPA-free formulation;
n full dual- and self-cure compatibility; and, n full alignment with 3M RelyX Universal Resin Cement.
The Social Excellence Award was presented to representatives from Cardiff University, School of Dentistry. From left: Nicola Loynes, Vice President, EMEA Special Markets, Henry Schein; Shannu Bhatia, Cardiff University; James Field, Cardiff University; and, Prof. Brian O'Connell, ADEE President. Photo credit: ADEE.
Full denture in Abro Basic Multistratum and Denture Gingiva Basic Mono resins.
Dentistry for the community
The team at the new RCSI School of Dentistry is bringing brand new facilities, an innovative curriculum, and great enthusiasm to dental education in Ireland.
Ann-Marie Hardiman Managing Editor, Think Media
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) School of Dentistry, which opened its doors to its first student cohort in September 2025, is proof that ambitious educational infrastructure projects can be delivered on time and on budget, where the will – and the expertise – are there to make it happen.
A keen awareness of the shortage of dentists nationally, and the shortage of places for dental students, prompted the RCSI’s return to undergraduate dentistry. The College ran the second-oldest dental programme in the Western world (LDSRCSI) for 99 years until it closed in 1977. According to Prof. Albert Leung, Foundation Head of the new School, the RCSI was motivated by a major desire to address unmet oral health needs: “There is a huge shortage of dentists in Ireland. We are training the second-lowest number of dentists in the OECD. As a result, much of the population are unable to access the oral healthcare that they need”.
A Higher Education Authority call for bids to increase capacity in healthcare education gave the team the impetus they needed. Their application was successful, and Government support of a new RCSI Dental School was announced in 2023. Prof. Leung and his team got straight to work, and in what seems like a ridiculously short time, they are ready to go: “We moved very swily and purposefully, and we’re very appreciative of the huge support from everybody in RCSI. We also had much support from the National University of Ireland, in accrediting our Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme four months aer we had been allowed to progress. The Dental Council of Ireland also endorsed us to launch”.
A central pillar of this project is the brand new Dental School building in Sandyford, which was completed in June of this year. It’s the first of three Dental Education Centres (DECs) that will enable the RCSI to bring its innovative community-based approach to delivering clinical dental education close to where it’s most needed. A second DEC in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown is scheduled to be completed in June 2027, and a third is planned for the 8th Lock in Ashtown. Despite recruitment challenges, an eminent team has been assembled to deliver this BDS programme. Prof. Leung is joined by Professor of Oral Surgery and Dental Anatomy Peter Cowan, and Professor of Restorative Dentistry Osama Omer, along with academics such as Drs Niamh Coffey and Cathy Richards (see panels).
Confident
general dentistry
So, what will dental education look like at the RCSI? The new curriculum is designed, says Prof. Leung, to train and qualify general dentists who are capable and confident
Students will work at 55 brand new clinical simulation units from their second week at the RCSI School of Dentistry.
treating dental disease, and is the first community-based undergraduate dental degree in Ireland. The course aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Oral Health Action Plan, which integrates oral healthcare with general healthcare, and the Government’s national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, which endorses dental care provision in the community.
The RCSI team has adopted the same approach as the award-winning Peninsula Dental School in Plymouth. “Oral healthcare should be delivered close to where patients live because around 95% of their dental needs can be provided by general dentists”, says Prof. Leung. “There’s nothing better than to train dentists to the required standard in the environment where they’re going to practise. We have collaboration arrangements with the Peninsula Dental School so that we can learn from their experiences in the last 15 years, adapt it to the Irish context, and operate our programme in line with the national oral health policy. Hopefully, we shall deliver innovative and contextualised training, something good for the country, good for the patients, and good for the next generation of dentists.”
This means operating what Prof. Leung calls “the vertically and horizontally integrated spiral curriculum”, where enquiry-based learning will blend with the latest technology to educate students not only in the clinical dental sciences, but also in hands-on clinical skills from the start. Key to this are the 55 clinical simulation units and the 12 patient clinics in Sandyford, rising to 80+ clinics when all three DECs are complete: “Students will experience clinical simulation from the second week of year one onwards. By starting them early, they’ll be competent in a range of operative dental procedures early, and we shall build from there. They will be able to start treating appropriate patients from May 2026”.
The DECs are designed to facilitate immersive training: “We have video links which can directly show what is happening elsewhere, even in clinic, with the patient’s consent, so the student can learn first-hand, ‘if you see this in the mouth, that’s what you would do’. It is very much clinically-oriented programming”.
The course will also cover the important ‘so skills’, from communications to
Prof. Albert Leung.
adopting the correct posture at the chairside, and indeed will include input from the IDA as part of the practice management and communications module. At the time of going to press, the first 30 students have begun their training with the School of Dentistry RCSI. Twenty of these will have come through the CAO system, with the rest coming from outside the EU. Prof. Leung is very conscious of the call from the IDA to introduce a cap on numbers of non-EU students to increase the number of training dentists who are likely to remain in Ireland aer graduation, and thus address the shortage of dentists here. He points out, however, that the current Government funding model means that there is a lot more work to do if this is ever to be achieved. He says that the RCSI School of Dentistry has the capacity to accept 35 EU students per year, and they hope to reach that capacity very soon.
Challenges
Of course, there are challenges associated with a new project of this scale, not least maintaining the momentum to scale up at the rate that they wish: “In year one, we have approximately 30 students. In the fullness of the course, we’re going
MEET THE TEAM
Dr Niamh Coffey
to have 375. We plan to have 95 staff or so. If you ask me in 2025, ‘Where would 95 staff come from?’, the answer is we don’t know yet. We have to build a programme solidly and progressively, bit by bit”.
He hopes that the DEC’s proximity to the M50 and other transport links will encourage dentists practising outside Dublin to come on board: “Hopefully, dentists practising both inside and outside Dublin will decide they would like to spend a day, or a couple of days each week teaching dental students. We would really love to have our colleagues on board because that is where primary care dentistry is”. Prof. Leung’s enthusiasm for the programme is clear: “Communitybased training in dentistry is the right way forward to help to address the oral health needs of the country. We are very grateful to the Government, the Department of Health, the Department of Higher and Further Education, the Dental Council, and the IDA”.
“We want to produce dentists who are fit for purpose and confident, to have a school strong in research, that produces quality graduates to help address oral health needs, who are comfortable with their profession and also ready to engage with postgraduate education and lifelong learning.”
Senior Lecturer in Restorative and Primary Care Dentistry, Simulation Lead
Aer graduating from Cork University Dental School and Hospital in 2013, Niamh worked in mixed NHS/private practice in the UK before returning to Ireland. She returned to the Cork University Dental School, first as a clinical supervisor and later as a Clinical Fellow in Restorative Dentistry, during which time she also completed her PhD. Alongside her work for the RCSI, she continues to work in general practice (“to keep myself rooted in the reality of primary care”).
Niamh’s research focuses on the interface between oral health and general health, and she is currently looking at the impact of oral health on pregnancy outcomes. She’s also interested in bringing oral healthcare to disadvantaged populations, and in dental education, both of which are very relevant to her role as Lead for Simulation and module lead for clinical dental practice: “In our programme, the
Dr Cathy Richards
Lecturer,
Curriculum and Year 1 Lead
Linking dentistry to the wider biomedical landscape is Cathy Richards. A UCD BSc (Hons) Genetics graduate, she moved to the RCSI to complete her PhD in oncology research, and stayed on as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer.
Cathy’s research focuses on hard-to-treat cancers, and building 3D in vivo modelling systems, work she envisages will also have relevance in the area of oral cancers.
Cathy is responsible for curriculum development, including adapting the curriculum from the Peninsula Dental School to Irish needs and guidelines: “We’re also conscious of keeping the strengths that
students are working with their hands from the very beginning. They’re getting to grips with what it feels like to be a dentist, so that by the time they move into clinic, they have all this technical experience so that they can then focus a little bit more on the so skills”. Niamh says that another strong point of the programme is the early introduction to the clinical setting: “This patient exposure continues to build each year, so that by the time they reach their final year they will have had sustained clinical contact across the full programme, developing both competence and confidence through repeated real-world experience. I am in charge of designing and overseeing the curriculum and the implementation to ensure that the activities are not just technically accurate, progressive and up to date, but reflective of what students will face in practice”.
Plymouth has that make it so effective. I’ve been responsible for aligning the assessments with the RCSI’s digital platforms. I’m also the lead for integrated dental science modules. That’s where that biomedical background is really coming to fruition because that model is the biomedical foundation for the students in years one and two. It’s a collaborative module – there’s lots of basic science driing to disease modelling, and then how that is all encapsulated in dentistry. As well as that, I’ll be the year one lead, so I’m supporting the students as they transition into university life and study here. It’s a nice position because I get to experience all that excitement from day one”.
Treating ‘Gen Z’
A world view from different perspectives will create different opinions and expectations.
Dr Martin Foster Dentolegal Consultant at Dental Protection
We are all familiar with the idea that clinicians and patients can hold different views of treatment. There is an obvious reason for this during an operative procedure of course, when the turbine is whizzing or the impression material is setting. The actions involved are second nature to the clinician; however, the patient in the chair, mouth open, lip numb, under a spray of water, has an entirely different view.
In a broader sense, a world view from different perspectives will create different opinions and expectations. Clinicians must appreciate this if they are to minimise potential difficulties in their interactions with patients. There is no single approach to understanding patient perspectives. Obviously, transmitter and receiver need to adapt to achieve clear and effective exchanges. This is not always easy to achieve, but the chances are increased if you ‘get’ where the other person is coming from. This is easier when you share a generation.
Generalisations
The phrase ‘generation gap’ was coined in the 1960s, a decade that witnessed all sorts of rapid societal changes. But the idea behind it, of ‘generational’ differences in attitudes and behaviours, goes further back. The tendency to lump together sections of the population into neat demographic groups is not new. It is tidy and convenient to do this.
The risk with generalisations, however, is that they attribute characteristics to a whole cohort of people. What is applicable to the group as a whole may not be such a good fit for the individuals in that group, so there is the danger of the ‘ecological fallacy’ – of inferring that an individual will have the characteristics of the group. They might have them, of course, but they might not, so it is important not to lose sight of the individual.
There is no single approach to understanding patient perspectives. Obviously, transmitter and receiver need to adapt to achieve clear and effective exchanges. This is not always easy to achieve, but the chances are increased if you ‘get’ where the other person is coming from.
Having said that, it is also true that the paradox of sweeping generalisations is that you cannot say that they are never accurate. Stereotypes do come from somewhere. There are some ‘typical’ Geminis, and basketball players are taller than jockeys as a rule. So, taking a pinch of salt to avoid ‘over-generalising’, here are some things to be aware of with respect to those born between approximately 1998 and 2012 – Generation Z, ‘iGen’ or ‘Zoomers’. You might be one yourself, of course.
The era of clinical paternalism has long since passed. The brave new world of online influencers and Dr Google has emerged, creating an environment in which ‘informed’ patients are less willing to accept what they do not want to hear and will challenge professionals.
Generation Z
This is the first generation of ‘digital natives’, who have grown up in an IT world. Gen Z tends to be confident, ambitious and extremely online. Working, shopping, dating, socialising, relaxing and obtaining information are all internet dominated. Gen Z will search online for instructions on how to do absolutely anything, with opinions and decisions more shaped by online information than face-to-face advice. Video-sharing on social media is a major part of communication. TikTok exerts huge influence. Online discussion sites and friendships are major factors. Although avid consumers of electronic technology and international travel, Gen Z voices support for sustainable, green options. Spending is more likely on day-to-day experiences and enjoying ‘now’ than on sacrificing short-term benefit for longer-term gain. When researching new products, services or activities, the internet is the trusted advice source and Gen Z is accustomed to filtering large amounts of online information when deciding what to spend money on. Influencers can play a significant part in shaping views, but their actual ‘individual’ influence can vary depending upon what other sources are out there.
Themes
There are some key themes in terms of dentolegal risk management for those providing dental care.
Managing expectations
As a cohort carefully curating their image online, Gen Z patients are, unsurprisingly, big on cosmetic treatments. Preventive care features from the appearance perspective rather than concern with oral health. The primary aim of treatment is an outcome that looks good. If perfectly white, aligned teeth are healthy too, then that is a bonus, but essentially,
social media ‘plus points’ will shape choices about dental care. It can be a demanding area and group to deal with.
The value placed upon aesthetics and the continuous exposure to examples of the ‘perfect smile’ across social media can lead to very high expectations in terms of cosmetic results. Beauty is in the eye of the Gen Z beholder and this is critical. The need to carefully manage expectations from the outset is therefore absolutely essential. Social media is a powerful tool for voicing dissatisfaction and Gen Z will be quick to use this.
There is an immediacy of expectation. Gen Z has grown up in a fast-paced, next-day/same-day delivery environment. Being ‘patient’ is not a welldeveloped characteristic. As well as perfection, results are expected yesterday – and the customer will expect their money back with no quibbles if they are not happy. Again, expectations around timeframes and what ‘good’ looks like need to be, like orthodontic treatment, clearly aligned.
Environmentally conscious, Gen Z will more likely favour the use of eco-friendly, less traditional dental products. This may not be an issue if these are safe adjuncts to the approaches recommended by the clinician, but it may be necessary to review and advise accordingly if some sort of ‘wonder product’ has been embraced as a result of online information that may not be quite as good as is claimed.
Getting treatment ‘right’
The era of clinical paternalism has long since passed. The brave new world of online influencers and Dr Google has emerged, creating an environment in which ‘informed’ patients are less willing to accept what they do not want to hear and will challenge professionals. AI has the answer to everything, of course, so the role of the clinician as the source of
clinical expertise may not be so readily accepted by Gen Z, who will have their own views and preferences for treatment, which may not agree with clinician recommendations.
Discussions with opinionated patients can be challenging. There is a line between accommodating patient choices and acceding to patient demands. There can be pressure on a clinician to provide treatment against their better judgement. A danger is the ‘my body, my choice’ argument that patients sometimes use when demanding a particular course of action. A clinician cannot proceed without consent from the patient but remember, treatment also needs the agreement of the clinician. The wrong treatment is still the wrong treatment no matter how much the patient may demand it.
A pertinent point to note is that Gen Z is more likely to identify as neurodivergent. They will expect those in healthcare settings to be alive to their specific needs and preferences. Neurodevelopmental differences should of course be picked up as part of any routine patient assessment, but it is worth bearing in mind the increasing prevalence of neurodiversity in a proactive, informed population. A lack of awareness of, or sensitivity to this can create unfavourable impressions and give rise to complaints or even accusations of discrimination and unfair treatment.
In summary, there can never be a one-size-fits-all approach when dealing with every patient. Returning to the point made earlier, generalisations risk conflating group characteristics with individual attributes so they must be viewed in that context. Being aware of general patterns that may potentially impact upon the demands of the dental environment can help clinicians to navigate challenges in delivering care and satisfying expectations around outcomes, whoever their patient may be.
Classified ads
Classified advertisements are accepted via the IDA website – www.dentist.ie – only, and must be prepaid. The deadline for receipt of advertisements for inclusion in the next edition is Friday, November 7, 2025. Classified ads placed in the Journal are also published on www.dentist.ie for 12 weeks.
Please note that all prices are inclusive of VAT.
Advert size Members Non-members up to 25 words €135.30 €270.60 26 to 40 words €161.70 €330.65
The maximum number of words for classified ads is 40. If the advert exceeds 40 words, please contact: Think Media, The Malthouse, 537 North Circular Road, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-856 1166
Fax: 01-856 1169
Email: paul@thinkmedia.ie
Please note that all classified adverts MUST come under one of the following headings:
4 Situations wanted 4 Situations vacant
4 Practices for sale/to let 4 Practices wanted
4 Equipment for sale/to let
Classified adverts must not be of a commercial nature. Commercial adverts can be arranged by contacting Paul O’Grady at Think Media.
SITUATIONS WANTED
Very experienced Irish graduate dentist is available for immediate locum or permanent dental associate post. All locations considered. Email locumirishdentist@hotmail.com
SITUATIONS VACANT
Associates
Athlone Dental is seeking a part-time dental associate (three days). Busy private and modern practice with excellent support staff. CBCT and intra-oral scanner.
Contact athlonedental@gmail.com
Full- or part-time associate required for a busy dental practice in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Full book, private/PRSI. Excellent support staff. 50% remuneration.
Contact ahernsdental1@gmail.com.
Associate dentist sought, full-time. Busy, modern general dental practice. Experience and kind, caring manner essential. Replacing busy departing colleague. Email pdsvacancy@gmail.com
Part-time dental associate required for busy, fully private practice in north Dublin. Excellent remuneration. Large multidisciplinary team with mentorship available. Flexible days. Hi-tech, stateof-the-art facilities including 3Shape scanner. Free parking. Beside DART.
Contact dublindentalsurgeonposition@gmail.com
Experienced full/part-time dental associate wanted for busy practice in Dundalk. 43 Dublin Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91KH81. Contact dublinstreetdental@gmail.com.
Associate full/part-time dentist for busy, private, modern Bray practice. Cosmetic/facial aesthetics/general in a holistic setting. Practice purchase possible for suitable candidates. 30 minutes from Dublin, beside sea with good lifestyle. CV to drjohnmurphy@gmail.com
Associate dentist required in a busy, private dental practice in Tralee, Co. Kerry. Permanent, part-time two to four days a week.
Apply with CV to info@flynnsdentalcare.ie
Busy north east practice seeks Irish Dental Council-registered part-time associate residing in Ireland.
We are one hour from Dublin/Belfast, with a visiting oral surgeon.
Contact mbcar06@gmail.com
Seeking another associate to join our expanding team. Clinic in new medical centre, 50 minutes from Dublin. Great support with scanner, digital X-rays, OPG, etc. Must be Irish Dental Council registered.
Contact anfiacloirdeirdrejob@gmail.com.
Associate dentist position available in mid-Kerry area. Three or four days per week, very busy private practice. Please forward CVs to milltowndentists@gmail.com
Associate dentist: Athlone. Join Dental Excellence, a busy, award-winning clinic in Athlone. Excellent support and patient flow. For more details, contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk.
Part-time associate: Blanchardstown. Smiles Dental Blanchardstown is seeking a part-time associate. Friendly team and strong patient base. Contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Associate dentist: Grand Canal. Modern practice in a prime central location. Smiles Grand Canal seeks an associate dentist to join a supportive team.
Email leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Part-time associate: Swords. Join Smiles Dental Swords. Lovely clinic with a supportive team and part-time availability. Contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk.
Dental associate required for private Dublin 12 and Dublin 7 multidisciplinary practices. Choose a location to suit. General and cosmetic demand. Flexible days. Modern, fully equipped, iTero. Excellent support teams are in place. Remuneration weekly. Contact alex@whitesmiledental.ie.
Associate: Ivory Dental Care is a family-run general practice in the heart of the lovely Malahide Village. CEREC Primescan and Primemill, TRIOS scanner, IV sedation, bonding, hygiene team, Invisalign. Full diaries, three to four days available. Three years’ experience ideal. Contact eamonnugent@ivorydental.ie.
Navan, Co. Meath. Enthusiastic associate dentist to replace departing colleague. Three days/week. Fully private. Fully digitalised practice. Excellent opportunity to join our highly motivated team. Excellent support team. Endodontist, periodontist, implants, hygienist. Minimum two years’ experience required. Email gh@bridgeviewdental.ie.
Meath: rare part-time opportunity for experienced associate to take over established, busy list from departing colleague. Extremely high remuneration, 50/50 split potentially. Fully digital. Multi-award-winning. Excellent,
experienced team. High volume of high-value cosmetic treatments.
Contact dentalassociatejobireland@gmail.com
Associate required for newly renovated, fourchair, busy practice in beautiful Boyle, Co. Roscommon. Enjoy a relaxed lifestyle in the west of Ireland! Full/part-time roles available, would consider locum. Excellent remuneration. Great support staff. Irish Dental Council registration essential.
Contact Boyledental@hotmail.com.
Associate dentist required to join our team at Hansfield Medical & Dental Centre, Dublin 15. Flexible hours – full/part-time. All modern facilities, including CBCT/intra-oral scanner. Enjoy a busy diary, friendly patients and staff, private, medical card, PRSI.
Contact admin@hansfieldmedicalcentre.ie.
Looking for an associate dentist to join our friendly team in our busy clinic in Galway City. State-of-the-art clinic.
Contact ethna@galwaydentalgroup.ie
Opportunity: full-time associate at Eyre Square Dental. Requirements: minimum two years’ experience, good communication skills, good crown, bridge and implant skills. Practice: 3Shape scanners, CBCT, nine chairs, five hygienists, great nursing and front desk team.
Contact paula@eyresquaredental.ie
Associate dentist – Clonshaugh. Exciting opportunity in an established, supportive clinic with a friendly, experienced team. Join us in delivering high-quality patient care in a modern setting. Apply now to become part of our growing practice.
Contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Part-time associate required. Ideally two days a week to replace departing colleague. Busy general practice in Douglas, Cork. Computerised, digital X-ray, and nice, friendly working environment. Experience and Irish Dental Council registration essential.
Contact Mccashman@yahoo.com
Full-time associates, Dublin 24. Seeking fulltime associates to join our team this October. Established practice. Experience preferred (but
not essential). Must be willing to provide treatment under PRSI and DTSS schemes. Contact sheena@midentalcare.ie
Seeking dental associate, full- or part-time. Modern south Dublin clinic featuring CBCT, intra-oral scanners, etc.
A supportive, patient-centred environment. Exciting role for motivated clinicians. Contact dublindentalroles@gmail.com
Associate required three to four days to replace longstanding colleague. Busy, modern practice in south Dublin.
Established patient base. Intra-oral scanner, AIassisted radiographs, etc. Great opportunity in an established, supportive clinic with a young, friendly, experienced team.
Contact donal@tuskdental.ie
Experienced associate required to join fully digital, multidisciplinary, well-established practice in Dublin 4.
Part-time hours – Mondays and Thursdays initially. Fantastic support team. Must have minimum 3+ years’ experience, preferably with CEREC experience, Irish Dental Council registration and indemnity insurance. Contact office@pembrokedentist.ie.
Exciting opportunity for a part-time associate general dentist in our modern, fully digital boutique clinic in Malahide.
Equipped with CBCT and intra-oral scanner. Join our high-end, patient-focused team. CV and portfolio required.
Contact info@bespokedental.ie.
Associate required to join busy, fully digital family practice in Blanchardstown Village. Well-established, supportive team. Friendly patients. One to two days per week. Private, PRSI. Contact lfkane@hotmail.com
Dentists
Join our modern private practice in Sligo and Donegal as a general dentist.
Work with cutting-edge tech, loyal patients, a supportive team.
Great cosmetic opportunities. Grow a career in a high-quality, forward-thinking environment. Contact manager@davidmcconvilleorthodontics.ie
Will you still be smiling at the end of the year?
Make sure your practice is profitable in 2025 As Ireland’s only specialist dental accountants we’re here to help you control your practice costs
MedAccount offers a full range of specialist dental accounting support and advisory services for Associates, Principals, Expense Sharing Partners and Hygienists.
MedAccount Services
S20, The Pottery, Pottery Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Tel: 01 280 6414
Email: info@medaccount.ie
Dental Care Ireland Westport – experienced dentist, flexible part- or full-time hours, high earning potential with busy patient books on offer.
Established practice and experienced clinical team in place. Must have Irish Dental Council registration, reside in Ireland.
Contact careers@dentalcareireland.com
Dentist required for two to four days per week in busy Tipperary practice. Great working environment, friendly patients and experienced support staff. New graduates welcome. Reply with CV to dentalposition057@gmail.com
Irish Dental Council-registered dentist required for a very busy, private, three-surgery practice in Nenagh, 20 minutes from Limerick. Full book to take over.
Contact contact@nenaghdental.ie.
Dentist required for a busy, three-surgery practice in south Dublin, one to two days per week.
Must be willing to see medical card patients. 50% split.
Contact dublindentist@gmail.com
Dental Care Ireland Cork City – dentist required for our modern, established four-chair practice. Fully supported by our experienced clinical team. Minimum two to three years’ experience. Part/full-time flexible hours. Irish Dental Council registration essential and must be eligible to work in Ireland.
Contact careers@dentalcareireland.com
Dentist – Dental Care Ireland Callan – full-time role, 2+ years’ experience preferred but not essential.
Irish Dental Council registration and eligible to work in Ireland. Strong patient books on offer, supported by experienced and friendly team. High earning potential.
Contact careers@dentalcareireland.com
Needed! Irish dentistry programme graduates with solid overall general dentistry knowledge and skills for our modern dental clinic in Surrey, British Columbia. Apply today!
Contact senaka.suriya@hotmail.com
Full-time dentist required to join our team in a longstanding, busy practice in west Dublin. Full book. Experienced staff. Great work environment. Please send CV to practicemanager221@gmail.com.
Dentist required for maternity leave with possibility of permanent position (two to four days/week).
North Cork area: 30 minutes from Limerick, 45 minutes from Cork. End of November 2025 to October 2026.
Busy dental practice, digital technology, strong and growing patient base. Contact ncdreception2@gmail.com
An opportunity exists for a part-time dentist to work in a very well-established practice in Dublin’s northside. All aspects of dentistry are offered. Experience preferred but not essential. Contact andrewhatherell@gmail.com.
Full-time dentist required to join our longstanding, growing practice in Drogheda. Practice facilities include iTero scanner, fully digital X-ray and AquaCare. We offer a friendly, experienced team, flexible scheduling and competitive salary.
Contact drogheda@alexandradental.ie
Young, ambitious dentists who wish to develop their skills required to join our practice for mentoring in restorative/prosthodontics/endodontics. We offer good remuneration. Contact pkorpal@gmail.com.
Dentist required for maternity leave cover starting mid-December for approximately eight months in a well-established family-owned Co. Limerick practice. Applicants must have Irish Dental Council registration and be eligible to work in Ireland.
Contact info@mullanedental.ie.
Dentist required to replace outgoing colleague (leaving for Australia late September).
Full book, CBCT, part of friendly three-dentist group practice. Dublin 13 area. Contact orthodebond@gmail.com
Dentist – Dental Care Ireland North Dublin –three or four days a week, established practice, offering strong patient books. High earning potential. Must have minimum 3+ years’ experience, Irish Dental Council, indemnity insurance and reside in Ireland. Experienced team in place. Contact careers@dentalcareireland.com
The Shields Dental group is seeking dentists for full- and part-time positions at clinics in Roscrea, Blackrock and Mullingar. Flexible working days available. Contact jobs@shieldsdentalclinic.ie.
Dentist: two days available in a very busy private practice. Longstanding practice with large patient list and experienced staff. 50% remuneration. Irish Dental Council registration necessary.
Contact kingscourtdentalpractice@gmail.com.
Alexandra Dental requires full-time general dentist Tuesday-Friday in Portarlington. Please apply with CV via email. Excellent support and communication teams.
Contact dr.danaher@alexandradental.ie
Dentists and specialists full/part-time required in Swords, Co. Dublin. High-tech practice with iTero Lumina and CBCT scanners. Thriving town with huge opportunity for professional development. Mentoring in Invisalign and cosmetic dentistry provided.
Apply now!
Contact eoin@oneilldentalcare.ie
Experienced dentist/dentist with special interest to join our high-tech multidisciplinary practice in Newbridge. Sedation, scanner, implants, CBCT, hygienist. Visiting oral surgeon/orthodontist.
Beautiful practice with excellent equipment and nursing/admin backup.
Please send CV to bpm.gmedical@gmail.com
Dentist required to join our team at Colm Smith Dental Cootehill/Monaghan. Busy, multidisciplinary, long-established practice, full/part-time hours. Team of oral surgeons, orthodontists, endodontists and hygienists. Must be Irish Dental Council registered. Email CV to drcolmsmith@gmail.com
Locums
Locum dentist required for three days to cover maternity leave in busy, modern, private Dublin 3 practice. October 2025 to January 2026, inclusive.
Contact garmcgann@gmail.com
Specialist/limited practice
Oral surgeon or dentist with a special interest to join our modern specialist clinic. Fantastic pay and conditions. Currently we have a long waiting list for treatments.
Contact tomas.allen@kingdomclinic.ie.
Periodontist required to join existing periodontist. Long waiting list. Fantastic earning potential in modern clinic with all the latest equipment. Kingdom Clinic, Killarney. Contact tomas.allen@kingdomclinic.ie
Letterkenny – enthusiastic orthodontist wanted. Fixed and aligners. CBCT/OPG/Lat Ceph and intra-oral scanners are available. Friendly multidisciplinary team.
See www.bluepoppydental.com
Cork: Smiles Dental is seeking a specialist orthodontist for a busy, well-established practice in Cork. Excellent clinical environment and support.
Email leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Orthodontist wanted in Limerick City – flexible hours, big patient base! Modern eight-chair clinic, scanners (iTero, CBCT, TRIOS), on-site lab, orthodontic nurse, hygienist support. Join our busy team today!
Contact cornmarketdental@gmail.com.
Orthodontic therapists/dental technicians
Specialist orthodontic practice in north Dublin seeks a passionate and enthusiastic orthodontic therapist to join our expanding orthodontic team.
Competitive remuneration, part/full-time, flexible working hours, recognition offered and state-of-the-art facilities.
Contact hrmanager@ncdental.ie
Clinical dental technician required to replace departing colleague in a busy Dundalk practice. 43 Dublin Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91KH81. Contact dublinstreetdental@gmail.com
Hygienists
Dental hygienist: Gort, Co. Galway. Busy, friendly clinic with an existing hygiene patient list. Part-time or full-time hours available. Excellent support staff and modern surgeries. Apply now by sending your CV to jobs@cubedental.ie
Donnybrook, Dublin 4 – Dental hygienist wanted for Fridays 8.00am-2.00pm. Taking over a full book in long-established general practice. Small, happy team.
Contact miriamkennydentist79@gmail.com.
Hygienist wanted for immediate start in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. Replacing departing colleague. Full book in family-friendly practice. Two days, no weekends. More days in neighbouring town if wanted.
Contact timlynchbds@hotmail.com
Dental hygienist: Busy book available at Smiles Enniscorthy. Join our experienced and friendly team.
Contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Full-time hygienist required for our multidisciplinary, modern, friendly and expanding practice. Very high earning potential. Excellent support staff. Own surgery and any equipment required will be supplied. New grads welcome.
Contact balbriggandentalcare@gmail.com
Dental hygienist – Dental Care Ireland Kells and Virginia – one day available in each practice due to demand. High earning potential, strong patient books on offer. Experienced and friendly clinical teams already in place.
Irish Dental Council registration and indemnity insurance essential.
Contact careers@dentalcareireland.com
Hygienist position available for Saturdays in our Dublin 12 clinic. Modern practice with excellent support staff. Favourable terms for a suitable candidate. Email CV to info@easedental.ie.
Cork: Dental hygienist required one to two days a week for a busy four-surgery practice in Youghal. To join team of two other hygienists. Friendly, long-established support staff and great working environment.
Email youghaldentist@gmail.com
Dental hygienist required for a busy foursurgery practice in New Ross. Long-established hygiene book. High earning potential. Start date October 2025. Contact info@rogersdental.ie.
Locum hygienist to cover six-week period between mid-November and Christmas. Can be flexible regarding hours. Busy book, great patients, in Dublin 14.
Contact info@odonnelldentalchurchtown.ie
Dental hygienist required to replace departing colleague. Family practice, excellent support staff and great patients. Close to bus and DART/train. Part-time with potential to expand. Please apply with CV to cirociao4@gmail.com
Mullingar! Qualified dental nurse required for full/part-time position (flexible). We are moving into a state-of-the-art new dental clinic on the main street. Immediate start possible, flexibility and a competitive salary.
Contact info@lakelandsdental.ie
Experienced dental nurse in Wexford town, three days/week plus some Saturdays. Training provided. Very busy and friendly family dental practice with a great team!
Contact owldentaljobs@gmail.com
Dental nurse: Galway. Quay Dental Galway is hiring a dental nurse. Supportive team and excellent facilities.
Email leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk.
Smiles Dental Bray is seeking a lead dental nurse. Great opportunity in a supportive, patient-focused practice.
Contact leah.hall@bupadentalcare.co.uk
Main Street Dental Care Midleton, currently recruiting experienced dental nurse. Some reception duties required. Three days a week with some Saturday mornings.
Please contact Karen at npdent22@gmail.com
Join our modern, efficient, team-oriented practice in Co. Meath. We’re offering fulland part-time nursing/reception/treatment co-ordinating positions. Enjoy a high-tech,
supportive, friendly team with excellent career pathways.
Contact meathdentists@gmail.com
Part-time dental nurse required for Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Three to four days per week. Possible full-time in January.
Contact drjmkelly@gmail.com
Swords Dental seeks an experienced dental nurse. Part- or full-time roles available. Busy, modern practice with excellent team environment and good remuneration for the right candidate.
Contact colinpatricklynam@hotmail.com
Qualified dental nurse required for orthodontic practice. Excellent conditions, modern surgery, professional team. Full- or part-time. Primarily based at our Sligo clinic, with occasional days in our Ballina clinic (paid mileage included). Please send CV to practice.westcoastortho@gmail.com
Qualified dental nurse required for full-time (Monday-Friday) reception and surgery position. Experience preferable. Email CV to reception@mearesdental.ie
PRACTICES FOR SALE/TO LET
For sale. No. 2 and 3 Coffey’s Row, Kenmare (freehold) and dental practice. No. 2: modern dental practice, three surgeries, computerised, digital X-rays/OPG.
Two dentists, one hygienist for 26 years. No. 3: three-bedroomed terrace house (two ensuite).
Contact kerrydentalsurgery24@gmail.com
To let – dental laboratory, fully fitted out (used mainly for ortho. appliances) ready to use in north Co. Dublin. Please email brenda@swordsortho.com for more information.
Exciting opportunity to buy a well-established dental clinic in a busy location in south-west Mallorca. There are two dental surgeries, a third consulting room, large reception area and separate OPT room. Contact europeandentalpractice@hotmail.com
Dublin City north, Dublin 3. Practice for sale. Freehold. Long-established practice. Owner retiring, two surgeries, room to expand. Private, PRSI, medical card. Very good equipment, scanner and dental mill. Associate available parttime. Parking spaces.
Contact kenjodonnell@gmail.com
South Dublin. Long-established two-surgery practice: private/PRSI, with minimak medical card.
Excellent location, close to DART/public transport. Plentiful parking close by. Very strong new patient numbers. Computerised/digitalised. Strong potential for growth. Principal available for transition.
Contact niall@innovativedental.com
Four practices for sale. All long leaseholds, well established.
Three Dublin. One Cork. Two chairs in all. Three chairs in one. Massive room to expand in all. Very good equipment, iTeros in all. Available as group or individually.
Contact
dentalsurgeriessaledublincork@gmail.com
Practice for sale in Donegal. Busy, modern practice. Large catchment area and new patient numbers. Inquiries to dentistdonegal@gmail.com.
Long-established, three-surgery, modern practice for sale, east midlands. Computerised, digital X-rays/OPG. Very good equipment. Private, PRSI, medical card. Available freehold or leasehold. Principal willing to stay on as associate.
Contact midlandsdentalsurgeryforsale@gmail.com.
Southeast. Strong, private three-surgery practice, ample room for expansion. Leasehold/freehold. Modern equipment, computerised/digitalised. Separate decontamination room. Long-established hygienist service. Loyal patient base, high new patient numbers, principals available for transition. Significant growth potential. Contact niall@innovativedental.com
PRACTICES WANTED
Seeking chair to rent four to six hours per week in Cork City or surrounding. Admin and patient records managed by renting dentist. Contact corkdentalchair@gmail.com
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Oral surgery: full surgical kits for sale. High-quality instruments. Two Welch Allyn pulse oximeter/blood pressure monitors with rolling carts. Please contact oralsurgeon91@gmail.com
Dentsply Sirona Cavitron Plus 30K with tap-on technology – 18 months old. €2,000. Retail price €3,700 ex. VAT. Contact deisedentist@gmail.com
OPG + Ceph Digital Gendex 9200 DDE in perfect working order, never gave a day’s fault. Replaced for CBCT. I would consider every offer. Contact pkorpal@gmail.com.
As a member of the Irish Dental Association you can use this logo on your website and other practice material.
Contact rosalba@irishdentalassoc.ie for details.
Driven by patient care
After qualifying as a physiotherapist, Meghan Kelly decided to move straight into dental training. She has just begun her fourth year of dental studies at Cork University Dental School.
Caoimhe Coolican Copy editor/journalist at Think Media
You originally trained as a physiotherapist – what made you make the switch to dentistry?
I started physio because I was always driven by looking aer patients, and that was my number one. I think I had a great foundation in healthcare and working with people, but I found dentistry combined more precision and hands-on clinical work. That’s what I wanted more of. Dentistry offered the perfect balance of keeping everything patient centred, but also a focus on precision, perfectionism, and technical skills.
What are the main differences between training as a physiotherapist and training as a dentist?
Physio is broader: it’s the whole body. It’s more movement and rehab focused, whereas dentistry really switches to detailed precision – to the scale of a millimetre. But both require very good communication skills. Dentistry is definitely more procedure based, and the training is more procedure based as well. In physio, it’s more education based with patients. You have to be good at relaying information to them and making sure they’re on board with rehab programmes and doing the work themselves.
What are the benefits of coming to dentistry as a mature student?
The biggest thing is that you appreciate the opportunity more. I chose dentistry very deliberately. I thought about it for years while I was studying; it wasn’t exactly an easy transition. I think you do make the decision deliberately. So, you’re very motivated when you’re there to get the most out of it. I feel like dealing with stress is easier because you know you want to be there.
What is your favourite subject in dentistry?
I really enjoy restorative dentistry because I think it’s very rewarding to see the impact of your work straight away. That’s probably one thing that’s slightly different to physio – physio works more over time. Restorative dentistry very much combines science, creativity, and the precision of it all.
What do you find most challenging about the course?
The workload when you come in first: the academic load and then trying to balance that with your clinical training. Trying to study in the evening while you’re also trying to see patients and have everything prepped. But it is what makes the whole thing so well rounded. I think this year is going to be the biggest learning curve – it’s way more clinical now. It’s also lovely how it all starts coming together.
Can you name a lecturer/mentor you admire and why?
When I was thinking of doing my application for dentistry, I was wandering around different dental practices in Dublin and I stumbled into one just off Grafton Street.
The dentist, Dr Paul Hooi, was amazing. He let me come in and sit in with patients. He’d even give me a ring and say: ‘Oh, I have an interesting case tomorrow if you want to pop in’. One thing he did was actually try to turn me off as well. He warned me: ‘This is a lot. This is going to be stressful. Are you sure?’ I really appreciated it because no one else tried to do that. No one else tried to give me the harsh truth.
What do you think are the big issues for dentistry in Ireland right now?
Access to care is a big one when it comes to public dentistry. I think that’s at the forefront of every dentist’s mind at the moment. Also, retaining dentists in the public system – and in Ireland. Within my age group, there’s a lot of emigration.
What are your interests outside dentistry?
I’m very passionate about music. I play Irish music on the harp and the concertina – it’s all about the manual dexterity! It’s a great way to switch off, and I find Cork is great for Irish music. I play Gaelic football as well, so I go home to Galway to play matches.
From le: Mature students Mark Muldowney, Sophie Browne, Meghan Kelly, and Lukas Bauza at a clinical pledge ceremony to mark the start of their journey treating patients in their third year.
