Majority of patients treated abroad require remedial dentistry

A survey commissioned by the Irish Dental Association has found that over the past 12 months 76% of Irish dentists in private practice have treated patients for problems linked to the dental treatment they received abroad.

Commenting on the results, IDA President, Dr Donal Blackwell, said the findings reinforced the Association’s concerns about the quality of dentistry that can be received abroad. One of the biggest problems is that too much dentistry is performed over too short a period of time. Unnecessary treatment and the use of poor materials also feature as problems in the survey.

Dr Blackwell went on to say that it appeared patients were focusing on the short-term, aesthetic results and price of such treatment, rather than the more important long-term health implications.

He said: ‘Dental tourism is a fact of life in every developed country and some people travel to Ireland for specialist dental work. However, we need to encourage people who may be travelling abroad to focus on the quality of work they receive and whether that work is really necessary and not just the price of that work.’

This national survey of dentists was conducted on behalf of the Irish Dental Association by Behaviour & Attitudes.