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Volume1 Issue2
I
ssues and
P
eople
Residentsof Bonavista, a townof 4300, havefirst-
hand experience with the hardships that come
with not having a local dental practice—it’s
been12 years since adentist last practised there.
“Patients up there have been travelling really
far for treatment, so as a result their treatments
havebeendelayedor not doneat all. Or patients
will choose an extraction over a root canal and
a crown just because it’s less visits,” says Dr. Pat
Redmond, a dentist with a private practice in
Gander.
Recently, Bonavista residents received some
goodnews. Through theefforts of Dr. Redmond
and 2 dental colleagues, along with help from
the NLDA, the province, and Bonavista town
council, the townfinallyhas itsowndental clinic,
which opened in April. Bonavista residents are
“quite excited and really pleased that theywon’t
have to travel as far anymore,” saysDr. Redmond.
The shortage of dentists in rural parts of the
province has also put a strain on dentists. “The
dentists that areherenow areoverworked,” says
Dr. Noel. “It’s not only difficult to attract associ-
ates, but it’s also difficult to retain them. There
are clinics that get a new
person every year—some-
body leaves, somebody
comes.”
Another challenge, accord-
ing toDr.Noel, is thatabout
half of the dentists in the
provincewithin thenext 10
years are within retirement
age. “Theproblem isn’t go-
ing to get better any time
soon, unless we do some-
thing.”
To encourage dentists to practise in rural New-
foundland, the provincial Rural Dental Bursary
Program and Specialist Bursary Programprovide
financial support for dentistry students while
they’re in school in exchange for one year of
service in rural or in-need areas of the province.
However, the bursary program was initiated in
2008 and its impact, in terms of addressingden-
tist shortages in rural communities, is not yet
clear.
Dr.Noelbelieves thatprobably thebiggest incen-
tive towork in ruralNewfoundlandandLabrador
is the opportunity to have a busy practice right
from the start. “You could come out of school
and right from day one you hit the ground run-
ning,” saysDr. Noel. Practising in rural communi-
ties also allows you todoperform awide variety
of procedures, according to Dr. Redmond. “It’s
more than you’d get in larger urban centres. It
makes yourworkmoreenjoyablebecauseyou’re
doingeverythingyouwere taught todo.”
There is also the appeal of living andworking in
a small, close knit dental community. “The issue
of not getting along is not one what you’ll ex-
perience in Newfoundland. Life has treatedme
verywell here inNewfoundland,” saysDr. Noel. “I
don’t regret for a secondcomingbackhome.”
a
It’s not onlydifficult
toattract associates, but
it’s alsodifficult to retain
them.There are clinics
that get anew person
every year—somebody
leaves, somebody comes.
JasonNoel
