Celebrating 20 years of Irish dentistry

This year, we are delighted to be celebrating 20 years of Irish Dentistry magazine, the leading independent publication for dentists and dental teams in Ireland.

This month, the 20th anniversary edition of Irish Dentistry will land on practice doorsteps across the country – the biggest issue in Irish dental media ever, with commemorative features, interviews with leading members of the profession, and much more.

We are incredibly proud to showcase this edition. We’ve been circulating to Irish dentists and dental practices for two decades, expanding year on year. So we are delighted to be able to commemorate the last two decades with a look back at how far Irish dentistry has come – and where it’s headed in the future.

We may indulge in some nostalgia – reminiscing on the launch of the first Irish Dentistry Awards in 2012 – but we’re looking forwards, too. Where is the profession in Ireland going? What changes are waiting in the wings of the next 20 years?

These are all interesting and important questions, and after two decades of seismic change in Ireland, it’s exciting to wonder what the future might yet hold. Of course, no one really knows what will happen or where the profession will be (though we can hazard a guess that digital dentistry will play a huge part), but it’s worth thinking about.

Digital evolution

That’s another thing. Digital dentistry has almost changed the face of the profession worldwide – you wouldn’t recognise it from the near-brutal machinery of the 60s – so we can only imagine what the world will look like in 2038, let alone dentistry.

To my mind, some of the most fascinating features in this celebratory issue are our mini Q&As with 20 dentists and dental professionals. We speak to the Chief Dental Officer, Dr Dympna Kavanagh, and many others on changes in their professional life over the years, and their predictions for the future. As you can imagine, there were some enlightening responses to read through.

We are also lucky enough to have quick-fire interviews with leading members of the trade, featuring your most recognisable dealers and representatives north and south of the border. Again, what I find interesting is the emphasis on digital dentistry – CBCT, practice management systems, and more. What else is to come?

A new focus for 2018

To add to this, we also launch our focus for 2018. Last year, we paid particular attention to children’s oral health in our Keep Kids’ Teeth Clean campaign.

This year, we’re focusing on vulnerable patients – older people, special needs and socially excluded groups, and children. We want to offer you advice from experts on how to deal with this particular group of patients, how to handle anxious and phobic patients, and how to cope with difficult situations. We thank Pamex for its generous educational grant to support this focus.

We also showcase the finalists for our 2018 Irish Dentistry Awards. Congratulations to everyone, and we look forward to seeing you all at the ceremony later this month on Friday 26 January. Make sure you don’t miss out – to get your tickets, call +44 (0) 1923 851739.

We hope you enjoy this commemorative edition and look back over it in the years to come. Here’s to the next milestone!

To get your copy of Irish Dentistry‘s commemorative 20th anniversary edition – the biggest issue in Irish dental media – call +44 (0) 1923 851777 or visit www.fmc.co.uk.