The recent RTÉ coverage on the pressures facing Ireland’s dental system has brought important attention to issues that have been building for years. For us at Irish Dental Jobs, these themes felt very familiar — not because they are new, but because they were central to our podcast 'The Dental Chair' discussion with Fintan Hourihan (IDA CEO) over a year ago.
That conversation explored the structural challenges shaping the profession, the shifting career paths of dentists, and the long‑term implications for patient care. The fact that these topics are now part of a wider national dialogue is a positive step forward.
1. Vocational Training: A Missing Link We Highlighted Early
One of the most significant issues raised in our podcast was the absence of a structured vocational or foundation training pathway for newly qualified dentists.
During the episode, we discussed:
- The end of vocational training in Ireland
- The UK’s shift toward prioritising their own graduates in VT.
- The difficulty new dentists face in finding mentorship
- The long‑term impact on confidence, competence, and retention
Fintan explained that the IDA, Dental Council and dental schools had already advocated for a foundation training scheme more than a decade ago. The need for structured early‑career support has been clear for some time.
The recent RTÉ coverage reinforces how central this issue has become. The challenges facing young dentists — and the knock‑on effects for the wider system — are now receiving the attention they deserve. The fact that the Health Minister is now considering making newly qualified dentists work in the public system to help ease the crisis is a step in the right direction.
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2. The Rise of Aesthetic Dentistry: A Trend Reshaping the Workforce
Another trend we explored on 'The Dental Chair' podcast was the growing shift toward aesthetic and cosmetic dentistry. This trend has been accelerating for several years, and it’s reshaping the availability of general dentists across the country.
On 'The Dental Chair', we spoke about:
- Dentists choosing aesthetic work for lifestyle and financial reasons
- The reduced interest in traditional general practice
- The difficulty in sourcing well‑rounded general dentists
- The impact on recruitment and workforce planning
This shift isn’t inherently negative — it reflects evolving patient demand and new opportunities within the profession. But it does create challenges for practices and for the public system, which relies heavily on general dental care.
RTÉ’s recent reporting highlights similar concerns, showing how these career choices are influencing access to care nationwide.
3. A Workforce Under Pressure: A Shared Understanding
The national conversation now reflects many of the trends we’ve been seeing through our recruitment data and daily interactions with dental professionals nationwide:
- The collapse of state-funded schemes
- The shift toward private and corporate dentistry
- The demographic changes within the profession
- The difficulty attracting dentists into public roles
- The widening gap between patient needs and workforce capacity
These issues are complex, interconnected and long‑standing. The fact that they are now being discussed more widely is encouraging — it means the groundwork for meaningful change is being laid.
4. Why Broader Awareness Matters
The alignment between our earlier discussions on 'The Dental Chair' and the recent RTÉ coverage highlights something important: Ireland’s dental workforce challenges are no longer niche concerns — they are national priorities.
Greater visibility helps:
- Strengthen the case for a foundation training scheme
- Encourage investment in early‑career support
- Highlight the need for sustainable public dental services
- Support practice owners and dental teams navigating rapid change
When multiple voices - from recruitment, professional bodies and national media - are highlighting the same issues, it becomes much harder for policymakers to overlook them.
5. Looking Ahead for 2026
The challenges facing the dental profession are real, but so is the opportunity for progress. The fact that these issues are now part of a broader public conversation is a positive development for dentists, practices and patients alike.
At Irish Dental Jobs, we’ll continue to share insights from the front line of recruitment, support dental professionals at every stage of their careers and contribute to the national dialogue on how to strengthen the future of dentistry in Ireland.