Dentists say a new survey indicates that in the past year 6,000 people who travelled abroad for dental treatment  had to receive corrective treatment on their return to Ireland.
 
According to the survey, carried out by the Irish Dental Association (IDA), 75% of Irish dentists say they have provided treatment to patients in these circumstances.

Speaking on the eve of the IDA's annual conference in Galway, Dr Donal Blackwell, its outgoing President, said he was shocked at the numbers of people needing corrective treatment.
 
"Common problems include too much dental work being done over too short a timeframe, unnecessary work being done and poor materials being used by dentists abroad,” he said.
 
The IDA has reminded those contemplating treatment abroad to ensure that any dentist treating them in another country is registered with the Irish Dental Council.

Dr Blackwell told irishhealth.com it would not be unreasonable to expect that a dentist outside Ireland treating a large number of Irish patients would havde Irish registration.

This, he said, gives patients some element of redress with the Irish regulatory authorities if something goes wrong.

Dr Blackwell advised anyone who required dental treatment to check with a local dentist in Ireland in the first instance to see what work is required and to get a valid price comparison with planned treatment abroad.
 
‘This is not like buying a computer or a phone abroad. This is a personal health issue and every situation is different. People need to focus on the quality of the care and the work they will receive and not just on the short- term price,” he said.
 
The survey and Dr Blackwell’s warning comes in the wake of a recent decision by the General Dental Council in the UK to suspend a Hungarian dentist it found guilty of misconduct following a complaint by a patient residing in Britain, who opted to be treated abroad.