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A MAJORITY OF dentists are warning that Covid-19 poses a risk to the “sustainability” of their practice, according to a new survey.
The survey of 329 private dentists by the Irish Dental Association found that nearly 80% reported a high or very high risk to the future of their practices because of the pandemic.
It also found that 87% believed that they were unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels of service.
The Irish Dental Association has previously accused the government of “ignoring the effective collapse of the dental profession in Ireland” and warned that the Covid-19 pandemic will lead to the collapse of dental practices across the country.
The new survey found that 67% of the dentists say they can only keep their practices operational for a maximum of three months.
“We are facing a grave threat to the nation’s oral health as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak,” said Fintan Hourihan, Chief Executive of the Irish Dental Association.
“Routine dentistry is forbidden currently and many practices cannot facilitate emergency treatments in their premises due to the scarcity of personal protective equipment. This means that a significant number of dentists have increasing difficulty in helping patients who desperately need help.”
Hourihan called for “state assistance” to support the industry. Without it, he warned that “serious and permanent damage will be done to the capacity to provide dental care”.
The Irish Dental Association has said that, of the practices that had applied for the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme, 29% had been rejected. The survey found that 86% of practices have had to lay off staff.
The association says it is also worried about the oral health of patients.
Nearly 90% of dentists surveyed said that all patients need to be able to access emergency centres.
As things stand, dentists can provide emergency treatment in certain circumstances and with PPE.
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Jesus something will have to be done about this, there’s nothing worse than toothache, how would people deal with it if there’s no dentist to help them!
@Colette Kearns: brush your teeth !
@James Quinn: Bell€nd
@James Quinn: You don’t think it’s a bit late at that stage , people don’t need to attend a dental surgery to show the dentist a winning smile…
@James Quinn: I do, but due to having cancer treatment it’s affecting my bones & can cause problems with my teeth. The last time ( a few weeks ago) I was at the dentist it cost me 450 € for a filling & to basically superglue a veneer back in! I’m just lucky I could afford it.
@Colette Kearns: keep well Colette.
@James Quinn: karma .
@Kate Flaherty: Thanks Kate x
@James Quinn: it’s not that simple . Karma …
@James Quinn: get in the liffey james
@James Quinn: fair enough james I do mine 3times a day .I ve a filling hanging out and I’m in agony .nothing to do with not brushing the fangs
@James Quinn: Brushing your teeth is helpful in preventing problems, it doesn’t cure them!!! can’t actually understand the government’s stand on ignoring dentists and the importance of oral health care in preventing Heart disease etc, our mouths are the gateway to many types of bacteria.
@Colette Kearns: Best wishes
@Colette Kearns: Colette, if it cost you that much then you really need to shop around, one of my veneers fell off too in January and it cost me €40 to stick it back on.. thats crazy money, city prices im guessing
@SteoG: Thank you so much, thankfully I’m on the other side of it now so all good x
@Lucille Ball: I nearly had a flipping heart attack when she told me the price!
Dentists have been overcharging for years, if they didn’t own top of the range Mercedes, BMWs, boats and holiday homes all over the world they might be able to sustain more than a couple of months of a shut down. Saying that if I had a toothache I’d sell my soul to pay the dentist.
I feel bad for any business or profession that is struggling during the crisis. But I also think that Dentistry in Ireland had lost the plot with charging exuberant prices for procedures and dental hygiene. Most people I know that needed extensive work went abroad
Easily solved, just charge more for it! AGAIN!
Poses high risk of sustainability of their Mercedes car loans and multi million euro mortgages
@John McIvor: resentful you were sh**e in school and didn’t do well in life?? Lol. Ever The begrudger…
If i had a raging toothache, i be in the dentist like a shot.. Id take the chance
@Geoff Bateman: I did, last week. Emailed them. They have policies in place for Covid 19 now and spaced out appointments. Some dentists are doing online?? Anyway dentist was great got sorted.
@Geoff Bateman: it’s not that pal theres near to none open.
@Bartron5000: I don’t know if you’re in Dublin or nearby to go to the dental hospital. Or you can get stuff from the chemist that you use yourself to apply a temporary filling. Ah you have my sympathy, hope you get sorted!
@Colette Kearns: none near me open and I’m in agony for a few weeks now. It’s a filling I need and can’t get it done anyway because they aren’t using drills at the moment.
@CarmelOh: could do a temporary dressing, no aerosol sprays needed?
@CarmelOh: Colette would your dentist or gp give you a course of antibiotics and strong painkillers to help in the meantime..? You can’t go on like that..they can’t use drills but if it comes down to it the dentist might pull it? No drilling involved if it’s a straightforward extraction
@CarmelOh: That’s awful, try calling the dental hospital & see what they can recommend , sure you can’t go on like that it’s so painful. Best of luck & I hope you get sorted soon x
@Colette Kearns: sorry, Dental hospital is closed!
@CarmelOh: we can use drills if we use rubber dam to protect against the spray. Most dentists should be comfortable using it, as it has been in use for years. There are practices in most areas providing some level of service at this stage, and I have had people traveling long distances when necessary, and with confirmation of their appointment there was no problem when they were stopped. You should be able to get that looked after if you’re in trouble.
@Lydia McLoughlin: glad u got sorted
@Pearl Dental/Beauty: oh thanks for the information. Good to know & a bit of reassurance for everyone x
@CarmelOh: definitely give the online dentist ppl a call i think it was €37 but they cld prescribe antibiotics or painkiller and ask them what can be done. Otherwise presentat at an a&e get it extracted! Don’t suffer..
Well, we need dentists. Poor oral health can lead to heart disease etc.
What date in the plan are dentists and orthodontists reopening does anyone know?
”Hourihan called for “state assistance” to support the industry”.
Rich people and their socialism.
Dentistry will always be in demand. If any handouts are given to dentists, it should come at a cost, like 10% ownership of their dentist practice being given to the taxpayers so we can “sustain” ourselves.
Me too
Dentist again trying to overcharge and be relevant. Greedy overpaid gits
I have had a temporary crown fitted since last June…had meant to get it properly fixed but ran out of money…was set to go in to get the permanent crown fitted (or whatever you call it) on April 2nd and then everything closed down. I know this crown was not meant to last a year but then again maybe these “temporary” crowns are better than we think LOL. Looking forwarding to being able to eat on both sides of my mouth again!
@Seeking Truth: a well made temporary crown can last a year or more. They are not designed as such, but there shouldn’t be a problem waiting until things return to a more normal level of service. If it comes loose then you would need to have it checked.
@Pearl Dental/Beauty: This is super helpful. Thank you!!!!
Hope the Dentists raise prices as they are far to cheap to be sustainable. Sure the people won’t mind.
Pulled out my tooth with a type of pliers the other day. Great job. Bit dodgy for a few days after but grand now.
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