Dr Ted MacNamara an Orthodontist in Limerick who in the late 90's with his sister had 9,000 children under care when their services was attacked by sections of the Dental Profession. These groups had undue influence on the Dental Council. It took action to destroy a training programme which had been the key to their success in dealing with large numbers of children in the public orthodontic system and thereby sabotaged the service.As a result of collapsing their training programmes, staff left regional orthodontic departments. These Dentists had joined them and worked hard treating children in return for the training which they provided. There was now no reason for them to stay.

Thousands of children who were wearing braces were neglected as there was now nobody to look after them. They were not seen in some cased for up to two years when they should have been seen every four weeks. Wires cut into their mouths. Abscesses formed. Teeth and gums were damaged. Some children who had presented with crowded teeth now needed artificial teeth as the appliances fitted to create the necessary spaces went on working for too long, in some cases months longer than they should have. Parents held sit in protests until their children's appliances were removed even though their children's treatment was not finished. Many of these, since they had had extractions, were much worse off after treatment than before. The public good was compromised

It was no longer possible to treat the same large numbers of patients to the same high standards, as the only system available to treat children fell apart.

Turning eligible children away became the only option in reducing waiting lists.The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children produced two reports on Orthodontics 2002 and 2005.The Committee expressed "its total dissatisfaction with the operations of the orthodontic services to date". I will try to get those reports, though if you have broad band it may be quicker

In referring to the services in the former Mid Western, Western and Southern Health Board regions which were "stopped" it stated

"These very successful services delivered prompt and efficient treatment for eligible children and provided trainees for the public service which permitted dramatic reductions in public waiting lists. These services also underwent numerous inspections. (Spary Report 2004, Burden 1997, Moran 1999, Report to the Health Executives 2002".

The Committee recommended that "The Training Programme provided in the former Mid Western Health Board area that was stopped should be reinstated immediately".

During one of its hearings John Dennehy TD (Cork) stated "we have three people who have come before us, Mr. O'Dowling and the two McNamara's in particular, people who show that they can deal with the issue. They have produced startling figures to show what can be done and yet they are being stopped".

Michael Ring TD a member of the Committee from the West, where Triona had worked and had reduced the waiting list from 7 to 2½ years stated "We had a service which was working. We have a service, which is now, not working".

Well the service is still not working, but at least I have the opportunity of writing this column to tell of Dr McNamara's experience.