Dentists in Northern Ireland are asking the Minister for Health and regulators to help curb the rise in ‘pop-up’ dental tourism clinics which they claim are putting patients at risk.
Members of the British Dental Association of Northern Ireland have voiced concern at ‘significant gaps in regulatory oversight and enforcement’ of some establishments offering ‘dental consultations’ and ‘smile makeovers’.
While The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is responsible for registering establishments which offer private dental care and treatment, it is the BDA’s view that existing legislation prevents them from being able to register a service where the ‘dental health professionals’ are not registered with the GDC, such as dentists from overseas.
Following correspondence between the Local Dental Committees and RQIA on the issue, the BDA has taken the step of elevating the matter to the Health Minister, the GDC, and RQIA.
Signed by Paul Brennan, chairman of the BDA’s Northern Ireland Council and addressed to Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, the letter states: “I wish to bring to your attention growing concerns regarding the practice of dentistry in ‘pop-up’ clinics such as hotels, and latterly in bricks-and-mortar premises without those premises being registered with, and regulated by, RQIA.
“It is important to emphasise that ‘dental consultations’ and ‘dental makeovers’ are being openly and frequently advertised as taking place in what are unregistered and unregulated premises.
“We are very concerned that ‘the practice of dentistry’is happening in unregistered establishments in Northern Ireland, beyond merely the marketing of overseas dental services.
“Simply looking inside a patient’s mouth and examining their teeth and gums with the intention of offering dental treatment will amount to the practice of dentistry which is illegal unless carried out by a registrant authorised to do so under the Dentists Act 1984.
“It is important that we receive urgent clarity on the issue of regulation of pop-up and bricks-and-mortar premises, not least to ensure the public is properly protected in all premises where dentistry is provided.
“In addition, for some time we have highlighted the need for DoH to issue clear guidance to support and protect dentists who are regularly having patients present to dental practice who have received dental treatment overseas, including cases where such private treatment has been against the advice of their GDP, and where, all too often, significant remedial treatment is required.
“We are looking to the Health Minister to intervene so far as these issues fall directly within his department’s remit, and also in engagement with the GDC and others to ensure an approach which adequately protects the public in Northern Ireland.
“The existing regulatory regime - with its significant loopholes - is falling short.”