Long waiting lists at dental clinics and a lack of female dentists have residents complaining about the government's dental services.

Health authorities, however, insist that existing facilities and staff are sufficient to meet the needs of Abu Dhabi residents and those who suffer long delays require special treatment or else they are not emergency cases.

Ahmed Majid, an Abu Dhabi resident, said he must wait far too long for an appointment at Salama Primary Healthcare Centre.

"One has to go early in the morning, pick up a number and wait for the dentist. But … there are a limited number of appointments every day. When there are long queues, you have to keep coming back until you get a number."

Another resident, who asked not to be named, complained about a shortage of female dentists, which prevents many women from receive proper dental health care.

"It seems that Abu Dhabi's government clinic has only two female dentists to cater to the women of the whole city," she wrote in a letter to Gulf News.

"Once it was closed for almost three months, creating a lot of problems, but it seems no action is forthcoming. Whenever I ask for an appointment there, they refer me to another clinic with only male dentists."

Dr Eissa Al Hosani, deputy director of dental health department at the Ministry of Health and director of Mafraq Dental Centre, denied the allegations and said women are served by female dentists in all government dental clinics.

"Abu Dhabi dental care centre has 17 female dentists out of 35 (dentists) and Mafraq Dental Centre has 14 out of 30. They provide both general dentistry and specialised treatments. Their emergency departments take care of urgent cases."

For dental treatment patients have to obtain a referral letter from the primary healthcare centre in their district. Not only clinics but also primary centres have separate male and female clinics, Dr Al Hosani said.

Al Hosani denied the closing of any clinic. In case a primary centre is closed temporarily, people can obtain a referral letter from another centre. The centres make appointments to avoid long queues.

Patients can get appointments within one to three weeks, while emergency cases are seen on the same day, Al Hosani said.

APPOINTMENT
Referral letter is necessary

• To receive dental care UAE nationals and expatriates must go to the primary healthcare centre in their district with their health cards.

• Following a check up, they are referred to the dental clinic, if additional treatment is needed.

• At an appointment, patients must present a letter of referral, a copy of their passport and their health card.