Marguerite Morgan                      Margaret Kierans                       Dr. Paul Dunne

1). Overview

Introduction to Irish Dental Jobs:

• Marguerite discusses her 25 years of recruitment experience and the unique approach her company takes to match dental professionals with practices across Ireland.

 

Challenges in the Dental Industry:

• External Factors:
• • Emigration: Dentists are leaving Ireland (e.g., 19 dentists moved to Australia in the last 24 months).
  • Lack of Graduates: A significant number of dental graduates leave Ireland, either returning to their home countries or pursuing careers in aesthetic dentistry.
  • Housing Crisis: High rents and limited accommodation drive both Irish and international dental professionals to leave.

 

• Internal Factors:
• • No mandatory vocational training for newly qualified dentists in Ireland, causing many to seek mentoring and training opportunities in the UK
  • The lengthy and cumbersome Irish Dental Council (IDC) registration process.
  • High attrition rates among support staff due to low pay and lack of appreciation.
  • Workplace misinformation (referred to as "Chinese whispers") and negativity impacting hiring decisions.

 

Proposed Solutions:

• Streamlining the IDC registration process with a new service led by Dr. Padraig Creedon.
• Employers offering accommodations or subsidized housing to attract and retain staff.
• Highlighting the importance of mentorship and creating a positive, supportive work environment.

 

Dr. Paul Dunn’s Experience:

• He shares his success in hiring a dentist through Irish Dental Jobs.
• Key to retaining staff includes fostering a positive workplace culture, supporting new hires, and finding team alignment.
• Paul’s practice reflects his personality, emphasising energy, fun, and a team effort.
• His personal efforts, including sourcing housing for Lisanne, highlight the importance of going beyond traditional employer responsibilities.

 

Promoting the West of Ireland:

• Paul advocates for the lifestyle benefits of living and working in the West of Ireland, including outdoor activities and a balanced pace of life.

 

Closing Message:

• Marguerite emphasises the importance of treating interactions with care in recruitment and life, echoing her belief that “people matter.”

 

The Dental Chair Podcast: Tackling the Shortage of Dental Professionals in Ireland

In this episode of The Dental Chair, host Marguerite Morgan, founder and director of Irish Dental Jobs, explores the pressing challenges and potential solutions to the shortage of dental professionals in Ireland. Joined by her right-hand woman and marketing manager Margaret Kierans, as well as special guest Dr. Paul Dunne, Marguerite delves into the root causes of the talent crisis, shares practical insights, and highlights success stories from the dental industry.

 

Unpacking the Challenges in Recruitment

Margaret began by shedding light on the dual challenges of external and internal factors contributing to the shortage of dental professionals in Ireland.

 

External Factors:

• Emigration: Over the past two years, 19 experienced dentists emigrated to Australia alone. While emigration affects many industries, the small size of the dental community makes such losses particularly impactful.
• Lack of Graduates: With only around 60 dental graduates annually in Ireland, and many of them being international students who return home after qualifying, the pool of talent remains small. Compounding this is the growing trend of new dentists entering aesthetic dentistry rather than general practice.
• Housing Crisis: Rising rents and a lack of available accommodation create significant barriers for both domestic and international dental professionals. Many professionals either leave urban centers or abandon their roles entirely due to housing challenges.

 

Internal Factors:

Margaret emphasized the importance of addressing issues within the dental profession that are within control, including:

 

• Lack of Mentorship and Training: Ireland does not mandate vocational training for new dental graduates, leading many to seek mentorship opportunities abroad.
• Lengthy Registration Process: The Irish Dental Council (IDC) registration process is slow and often leaves candidates and employers frustrated.
• Staff Retention Issues: Since COVID, 35% of support staff have left the industry due to low pay and lack of appreciation. Margaret shared anecdotes of former dental nurses leaving for better-paying roles in other industries, such as retail.

Despite these challenges, Margaret highlighted the solutions being developed, including a new service led by Dr. Padraig Creedon to streamline the IDC registration process and improve recruitment experiences.

 

A Recruitment Success Story

Dr. Paul Dunne, a dental practice owner in County Mayo, shared his firsthand experience navigating the challenges of recruitment and retention.

 

Working with IrIsh Dental Jobs:

Paul contacted Irish Dental Jobs in search of a dentist for his expanding practice. Marguerite’s hands-on approach, including visiting Paul’s clinic, allowed her to match him with Lisanne, an international candidate whose personality and skills were a perfect fit for his team.

 

Paul emphasized the importance of recruitment beyond qualifications:

• Cultural Fit: Paul believes that hiring the right personality is just as crucial as professional qualifications, as one misaligned hire can disrupt the entire team dynamic.
• The Role of Workplace Culture: Paul’s practice fosters a positive and collaborative environment, which he attributes to his team’s success in retaining staff. “Good vibes,” he joked, are key to maintaining a strong team spirit.

 

Overcoming Housing Barriers

One of the biggest hurdles Paul faced was finding housing for Lisanne. With housing options limited in Mayo due to a local pyrite crisis, Paul and his team worked together to source accommodation through local contacts. Their efforts resulted in Lisanne securing a home close to the beach, further enhancing her positive transition to the area.

 

Promoting the West of Ireland

As a resident of the West, Paul advocated for the benefits of living and working in the region. With its stunning natural beauty, outdoor activities, and shorter commutes, the West offers a unique work-life balance. However, Paul acknowledged the ongoing need to address housing shortages to make the region more accessible to new professionals.

 

 

Conclusion: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

This episode of The Dental Chair highlighted both the challenges and opportunities within Ireland’s dental industry. From emigration and housing to internal retention issues, the shortage of dental professionals is a multifaceted problem. However, as Marguerite, Margaret, and Dr. Dunne demonstrated, solutions are within reach:

 

• Addressing internal factors like mentorship, appreciation, and workplace culture can significantly improve retention.
• Creative efforts, such as assisting with housing and streamlining the IDC registration process, can remove barriers for new hires.
• Promoting the lifestyle benefits of working in regions like the West of Ireland can attract professionals seeking a better quality of life.

 

As Marguerite closed the episode, she left listeners with a powerful reminder: “Treat every interaction with care and consideration, because in recruitment and in life, people matter.” By prioritizing collaboration and innovation, the dental community can overcome these challenges and build a stronger, more sustainable future.

 

For more insights, visit Irish Dental Jobs or explore their Salary Guide and Dental Insights for the latest industry trends.