Interview
Continued » “Hard facts are what influence
policy and convince ministers,” she said. “If we can say there have been changes in the health of the elderly or in different groups, then that helps us to focus. “We know, for example, from
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) that there is early evidence people are holding onto a lot more teeth, and we have clinical research which supports that. That’s why we’re supporting TILDA, we want it to be continuous so that we know what the evidence is and see what impact changes of policy can have on the health of the population.” Dr Kavanagh does not deny
that dentistry in Ireland has been through a difficult period, with cuts in state support to the Dental Treat- ment Services Scheme (DTSS) and Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) dental schemes. “Ireland has gone through very
tough times, but I hope that there is a sense of green shoots there and a positive sense that people are coming together again,” she said. “Funding is increasing year on year, even if that’s not the sense out there. The good part is that we have held onto our state schemes, because other state schemes just didn’t survive. The bad news is we didn’t maintain the money, but at least we have a core to work with and we’re not going to lose it. Now what’s really important is that we move forward and onwards with the policy.” Ultimately, though, the final
part of developing the Oral Health Policy is in the public consultation, to understand people’s perceptions and ensure that any developments will be understood and taken up by the general public. “You could create the perfect
system, but if people don’t come to the door, because there’s something about it they don’t like, then they won’t come,” said Dr Kavanagh. “Even in a time of depression, what was really concerning was that people were not turning up for dental treatment, even those who receive it for free. “Maybe they didn’t understand enough about the system, and they were scared that they would be charged. So it’s really important to understand from the public’s point of view what brings them in across the door, and what makes them stay and come again. We need to engage with the public in a very focused way in that regard.” With that, Dr Kavanagh is off to
her next appointment, leaving only long enough for one final message to the profession in Ireland. “This policy is not about what the
Department of Health thinks, or about the HSE, or the Government,” she said. “What is really important is that it is informed from the prac- tice, and the only way that will happen is by practitioners getting involved, and by them letting us know how they feel. We need to hear your responses about how we’re going to move forward, so you can make it your own. The future sustainability for the profession is what is most important.”
CAREER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Dr Kavanagh qualified from University College Cork Dental School with a PhD in Preventive Dentistry. She completed her Fellowship in Dental Public Health at Guy’s Hospital and King’s College Hospital in London, and then worked across five strategic health authorities in dental public health.
Dr Kavanagh returned to Ireland in 2001 to take up a post with Mid-Western Health Board in general management. She returned to dentistry in the post of principal dental surgeon for the Limerick/ North Tipperary area in 2003. She has also worked in HSE Corporate for the Quality and Risk section of the former Primary, Community and Continuing Care Directorate. She was appointed Oral Health Lead for the HSE in Ireland in 2010, and became Chief Dental Officer in 2013.
ORAL HEALTH POLICY ACADEMIC REFERENCE GROUP
Prof Denis O’Mullane (chair) – emeritus professor of preventive dentistry at UCC and former chief dental officer from 1978 to 1982. Prof Brian O’Connell (vice chair) – professor of restorative dentistry and director of postgraduate prosthodon- tics at Trinity College, Dublin. Prof Margaret Barry –professor of health promotion at NUI, Galway. Dr Alison Dougall – consultant and Assistant Professor in Special Care Dentistry at DDUH. Dr Jacinta McLoughlin – professor in public dental health and director of undergraduate teaching and learning, Trinity College Dublin. Ms Kathryn Neville – manager for medicine and health at UCC. Prof David Madden – professor of economics at University College Dublin.
Ireland’s Dental magazine 23
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