News
Prestigious award for UCC dentist
RECOGNITION
A restorative dentist from UCC has won the poster competition at the recent Specialist Registrars in Restorative Dentistry Group (SRRDG) meeting in London. Dr Martina Hayes’ pres- entation was on the ‘Clinical performance of root surface restorations in older adults’ and looked at comparing the clinical findings of different restorative materials when lesions on the root surface. The poster presented the early findings of the study, which indicates that glass ionomer cements and resin modified cements are the most appropriate materials for this indication. However, the study states that no firm conclusions can be drawn until the patients have been followed up over a longer period of time.
Asked about her win,
Martina said: “I was delighted. An award like this validates the importance of conducting clinical research even though at times it is very challenging. “For this study, my dental nurse Vanessa and I have had to recruit and examine more than 300 adults aged over 65 which was very time consuming and labour intensive. It’s fantastic to see that the judges appreciated how much work is involved in a study like this and felt that this research could have a real impact on clinical practice for general dentists.”
PDS is ‘critically compromised’
New president of the HSE Dental Surgeons group says staff are being put under increasing pressure
D
entists working in the Public Dental Service are being pushed to breaking point according to the new president of the HSE Dental Surgeons group.
Frances O’Callaghan said that, thanks to
the ongoing recruitment embargo within the HSE, staff numbers are decreasing as patient numbers are going up. Speaking at the annual conference for HSE
dental surgeons in Co Carlow recently, she said: “We are seeing evidence on a daily basis of increased levels of untreated dental disease among our patients and this is a huge concern for our members. “Staff levels have fallen to the point
that our ability to deal with the basic treatment needs of our patients is now critically compromised. “More patients are presenting with pain
and infection, requiring complex treatments and, in certain circumstances, hospital admis- sion. Waiting lists for treatment under general anaesthesia, orthodontics and oral surgery are continuing to lengthen due to the lack of resources.”
Record turnout for IDHA event
SCIENTIFIC MEETING
The 20ı4 Irish Dental Hygienist Association (IDHA) annual winter scientific conference saw more than ı30 delegates attend at Carton House in Maynooth. The event included a comprehensive
lecture and workshop programme featuring high-calibre speakers such as Dr Grace Kelly and Professor Kirsten Warrer. It also saw the presentation of the Kin Dental Hygienist of the Year award, which went to Anne Marie Brennan from Cork. IDHA president Louise Fleming, who was
attending the conference for the first time as president, said: “It was one of our best attended events this year and feedback from delegates was absolutely fantastic. “There was lots of energy on the day in the
12 Ireland’s Dental magazine
From left: Diarmuid Gavin from award sponsors Pamex Ltd, Anne Holohan, Anne Marie Brennan, Anne O’Keeffe and Catherine Waldron
workshops and lectures, which was excellent. “I was just so very happy to see so many
delegates turning out, all with the common goals of continuing education, upskilling, networking with their peers and exchanging ideas and talking with the trade.” In response to member feedback, next year
the IDHA will be combining its winter and spring conferences. The 20ı5 event will take place on 6 and 7 November with workshops on the Friday and lectures on the Saturday.
A spokesman for the HSE said: “Recruit-
ment of dentists is proceeding where necessary in cases where a business case illustrating this need is submitted from a service area. “In recent months, one consultant ortho-
dontist, 6.05 general dental surgeons and six dental nurse posts have already been approved for the Public Dental Services on the submission of such cases; several others are under consideration. “In relation to secondary care services,
the HSE endeavours to provide services for children on the basis of clinical need. It is anticipated that the reconfiguration of acute services will offer significant potential for increasing access to these dental secondary care services in all hospitals. “It should also be noted that there has been
a decrease in orthodontic service assess- ment waiting lists over the past ı2 months, as evidenced by the performance indicators. In addition, a national procurement process is at its final stages to commence treatment for those waiting for a long period of time and funding has been provided for this initiative.”
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