The Irish Dental Association has today (4th May 2023) announced that Dr Eamon Croke has been appointed as its 100th President.

Dr Croke takes over from outgoing President Caroline Robbins who has completed her one-year term at the helm of the Association.

Dr Croke qualified from Dublin University in 1979. He practised in the U.K. until 1991 where he undertook a Master’s programme in Prosthetic Dentistry (dentures) in the Eastman Dental Hospital, London. On returning to Dublin, he took up practise in Molesworth House in the city centre, where he has been treating patients since 1993.

Dr Croke is a part-time lecturer in the Dublin Dental University Hospital and has served two terms on the Dental Council. He is also a member of the Irish Dental Association’s GP committee, has chaired its Quality and Patient Safety Committee and held the position of Honorary Treasurer.

Dr Croke set out his priorities for the year ahead during his inaugural speech to the Irish Dental Association AGM today (4th May 2023), which includes continuing the campaign for reforms within dentistry, the need for statutory Continual Professional Development (CPD) within the profession and the importance of delivering sustainability across the sector.

Commenting upon his appointment President Eamon Croke said:

“I am acutely aware that I am embarking on my term as President during what can only be described as trying and uncertain times for many of our members and the hundreds of thousands of patients that we treat.

“Our profession is at the centre of a recruitment and resourcing crisis with 100 extra public-only dentists in the HSE needed immediately to meet the needs of our rising population.

“I begin my tenure as President at a time when the number of practicing public-only dentists has dropped by almost one quarter (23%) over the past 15 years leading to an extreme backlog in our child screening service. It is a perfect storm where there are also fewer dentists available to provide treatment in a chronically unfit-for-purpose medical card scheme.

“Among my immediate priorities will be to carry the messages from this AGM to the Department of Health and Minister. We need to work hard on rebuilding trust between both parties to create a respectful, working partnership that has patients and access at its heart.

“As healthcare professionals, we know the practice of dentistry and we know the business of dentistry. The problems have long been communicated; now, and for the next 12 months and beyond, my focus on behalf of the members I represent is agreeing and developing solutions.”