Distraught parents this week told a public meeting of having to cut wires from their children’s mouths with pliers to ease their dental discomfort.
The meeting was held following the cessation of treatment by Oranmore-based Specialist Orthodontist, Dr Anne Hahessy, which has left many parents and patients without guidance as to who will continue their much-needed orthodontic care.
The meeting saw patients come together to discuss the future implications following an order from The Dental Council of Ireland directed at Dr. Hahessy, to no longer engage in the practice of dentistry.
What initially began as repeatedly cancelled appointments has now evolved to a situation where patients have been left with no guidance on what comes next, if and when refunds will be issued and even who can they turn to for future orthodontic treatment.
Parents of patients of Dr Hahessy called for guidance from the Minister of Health and The Dental Council in the meeting on Monday regarding future treatments.
Parents report being left with “no road map” on incomplete orthodontic work on children and of having struggle a to find orthodontists who would take over.
In a release to parents and patients by Dr Hahessy sent out on August 29, she states, “In July I had secured the help of an experienced orthodontist and orthodontically trained dentist to work together for an interim period of five months.
|”I accepted that the solution was not perfect, but was the best available option which addressed the immediate and continued care of my patients, in my absence. Regrettably, this proposal was rejected by the Dental Council.”
Now parents are claiming that the Dental Council has “washed their hands” of the crisis surrounding Dr Hahessy’s patients, and are at their wit’s end trying to find a solution for children with impacted teeth who need specialist orthodontic treatment.
Many who paid up front for Dr Hahessy’s services on their children are now left out of pocket with no word about refunds, something many are relying on to use to hire another orthodontist.
