Press Release
CAI INVESTIGATION FINDS UNREGISTERED AND UNREGULATED PROVIDERS INAPPROPRIATELY TREATING DENTURE PATIENTS
Adequate consumer protection is lacking in the provision of dentures in
Ireland. A Consumer Choice investigation has found unregistered, unregulated
providers are potentially treating consumers needing dentures.
Since 2008 a new class of dental worker was established, the clinical dental
technician who can directly provide dentures to consumers. This change in how
dental services are provided in Ireland was intended to increase competition
delivering better value and more choice for consumers. But competition among
properly qualified clinical dental technicians is low, of which there are 15 on
the regulator’s register. However, a situation has developed where denture
providers who have not gained the relevant qualifications to treat consumers
directly are operating alongside clinical dental technicians who have.
By law unqualified denture providers can only provide dentures to dentists, and
not directly consumers. The Consumers Association of Ireland (CAI) wished to
establish if dentures are being provided direct to consumers by unregulated
providers - despite such providers not having the adequate clinical
qualification deemed sufficient to treat consumers.
We found 35 providers operating in the Dublin area and advertising denture
services. Of these, only found 5 are on the Dental Council register. The CAI
contacted a random sample of unregistered Dublin denture providers and asked if
they would provide dentures to a relative to replace some missing teeth. Our
research found that all except one said they would. In fact, over 80% of
providers in our survey agreed to provide denture services directly to
consumers, despite not being registered.
The research uncovered that consumers are potentially exposed to unregulated and
unregistered denture providers in Ireland. This leaves consumers potentially
exposed to receiving denture treatment by those not adequately qualified to do
so, potentially also compromising the oral health of consumers.
The CAI advises consumers who need new dentures or have issues with their
existing dentures to check their denturist is on the Dental Council’s register.
If consumers have now or in the past had issues they should report these to the
Dental Council.
The full report is published in the May issue of Consumer Choice, the Consumers’
Association of Ireland monthly magazine. For further information, please contact
CAI on (01) 497 8600 or
cai@consumerassociation.ie
ENDS
Editors Notes:
Consumer
Choice is published monthly by the Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI)
limited, a wholly independent, non-government, non-profit making body.
Consumer Choice's team of dedicated researchers use their expertise to provide
subscribers with impartial reporting on household consumer goods, personal
finance, automotive, food, health, safety and consumer rights.
Consumer Choice does not carry any advertising. For that reason it can offer
readers an unbiased view of all the products and services they review.
Consumer Choice is available through a subscription of €24 per quarter direct
from the Consumers' Association of Ireland, - contact subscriptions at
cai@consumerassociation.ie,
www.thecai.ie or call subscriptions on (01)
497 8811.
Reports in Consumer Choice are based on market research, laboratory tests or
user surveys, all of which are independently and scientifically conducted. All
reports are produced by the editorial staff. Some material is occasionally drawn
from other foreign independent consumer magazines.
Reports cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the Editor.
Published with the permission of the Consumers' Association of Ireland