Dental Council of Ireland President Warns of Patient Risks Due to Lack of Regulation

Serious Concerns Raised Over Dental Practice Oversight

The President of the Dental Council of Ireland, Dr Gerry Cleary, has issued a stern warning to the Irish government, citing concerns that patients are being exposed to risks due to the inadequate regulation of dentistry practices. Correspondence obtained by RTÉ Investigates reveals Dr Cleary’s strong assertion that the lack of legislative reform is compelling dentists to adopt positions that compromise public safety.

Lack of Response to Council’s Concerns

In a letter sent last month, Dr Cleary expressed the Dental Council’s serious concerns about the outdated and limited legislative framework governing the dental sector in Ireland. The letter emphasizes that the Council has yet to receive a formal response to its correspondence, indicating a lack of engagement from the government.

Inability to Investigate Sanctioned Dentists

RTÉ Investigates uncovered that, in the last eight years, the Dental Council has been unable to investigate 37 dentists working in Ireland who had been sanctioned in other jurisdictions. Dr Cleary points out that the Council must ignore such cases from a regulatory perspective due to the lack of legislative powers.

Legislation Described as Outdated and Limited

Dr Cleary describes the current legislation governing the dental sector as “outdated, limited, and often simplistic.” This statement follows RTÉ Investigates’ reports highlighting how gaps in dental regulation have led to patient harm and distress.

Despite the Department of Health’s commitment to reforming the nearly 40-year-old Dentists Act 1985, Dr Cleary’s letter challenges the sincerity of this commitment. He points out the lack of engagement and response from the Department since the Council submitted a plan for legislative reform in October 2021.

Delay in Legislative Changes

The letter references attempts to amend the Dentists Act 1985 through the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020. However, three years later, none of the provisions relating to dentistry have been commenced, preventing the Dental Council from addressing dentists practicing in Ireland with sanctions from other countries.

Dr Cleary concludes that the public will continue to be at risk until legislative changes are implemented. He emphasizes the urgency of regulatory reform, urging a collaborative and constructive approach without waiting for adverse events or media coverage to trigger action. The Dental Council’s concern extends to the weak regulatory framework, likening dental patients’ protection to be weaker than a cat getting its claws clipped at a vet.

Department of Health’s Response

The Department of Health acknowledges the need for a review of the Dentists Act 1985 and is considering the necessary timelines for a modern regulatory framework. The commencement of the Regulated Professions (Health and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020 is expected to be phased, with the Department committing to finalizing commencement in the near future.

As the call for urgent regulatory reform grows, the Dental Council of Ireland emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues without waiting for further harm to patients or negative media coverage.