Dentists in Cyprus are expressing concerns over potential health risks as patients, unfamiliar with their medical history and medications, flock to dental clinics for their annual free cleanings under the General Health System (GESY).
This situation poses the danger of causing bleeding or other unpleasant conditions, as dental professionals lack even limited access to the medical records of GESY beneficiaries.
Antonis Antoniou, President of the Pan-Cyprian Dental Association, highlighted the issue, stating, “We may be putting some people at significant risk, especially among GESY beneficiaries, who, due to the right of having an annual dental visit, enter our clinics without us knowing anything about their medical history.”
The problem, as explained by Antoniou, is not prevalent among long-term patients whose medical history is well-known to the dental practitioners. The gap exists with GESY beneficiaries, as they enter dental offices without prior disclosure of their medical history.
In cases involving elderly individuals, the challenge intensifies. Many seniors either cannot provide relevant information or lack access to their electronic records, making it difficult for dentists to make informed decisions.
Antoniou emphasized, “If, for example, a person has heart issues, we need to use different substances for anesthesia. If they have a pacemaker, we must be aware to take appropriate measures. If they are on anticoagulant medication, we need to know in advance to recommend a temporary discontinuation before proceeding with cleaning. Failure to do so could lead to bleeding issues.”
Antoniou raised the matter during a meeting with representatives of the Health Insurance Organisation (OAY), held last Monday.
He conveyed multiple requests, including addressing the fact that only 30% of GESY beneficiaries utilize their right to visit dentists for services offered through the system.
During the meeting, Antoniou stated, “We reiterated that, with an available budget, we could incorporate additional activities into GESY, such as the provision of two specific X-rays every two years for preventive purposes. We proposed raising the age limit for fluoridation in children from 12 to 18 years, and increasing the compensation received by dentists from GESY.”
OAY, reportedly requested dentists to allocate time credits to initiate an awareness campaign for citizens regarding their specific rights under GESY.
Data evaluation is set to take place anew in January, with OAY aiming to increase the percentage of GESY beneficiaries visiting dentists within the system from the current 30%.
