Dr Paul O’Dwyer
BDS, MSc, FPFA, FACD, FCGDent
Dental Surgeon, Healthcare Manager & Senior Lecturer
Undergraduate Years
Undergraduate Years
The demanding five-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme at University College Cork (UCC) provided high-quality academic instruction combined with rigorous clinical training, preparing graduates for independent dental practice, postgraduate specialisation and further academic study.
During his undergraduate studies, Dr O’Dwyer was elected Class Representative and subsequently served as Chairperson of the University Dental Society, reflecting an early involvement in student representation and professional leadership.
He was awarded Health Research Board (HRB) funding to undertake undergraduate research examining enamel microstructure. The findings of this research were presented at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) World Meeting in Florida, USA, in May 1997. His undergraduate research was also recognised with the All-Ireland Intervarsity Crest Undergraduate Research Award in 1995.
Dr O’Dwyer graduated from University College Cork with the degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) on 26 June 1997.
Clinical Practice, Advocacy & Corporate Dentistry
2000-2010
A decade of change
Hospital Dentistry
Following graduation, Dr O’Dwyer was appointed Senior House Officer (SHO) in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Dental School and Hospital, Cork, working with Professor Duncan Sleeman.
International Experience
From 1997 to 1999, he practised general dentistry in Nottingham, United Kingdom, gaining experience within the National Health Service (NHS).
College Appointment
On returning to Ireland in 1999, he was appointed Senior Anatomy Demonstrator at University College Cork (1999–2000), while concurrently practising dentistry in Cork City and preparing to establish his own dental practice. During this period, he was also appointed Interim Registrar in Restorative Dentistry at the University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, working with Professor Robert McConnell.
Founding / Start Up Dental Practice
In 2000, Dr O’Dwyer established his own dental practice in Newport, Co. Tipperary, where for the following ten years he provided comprehensive general dental care to patients across all age groups within the local community - serving local residential care homes - and partnering with the HSE to provide child dental check ups within his own surgery. He provided treatment under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS/Medical Card Scheme) and the Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) Scheme. This practice traded profitably year-on-year - building a loyal patient base.
Advocacy
Alongside clinical practice, he became actively involved in dental professional representation and policy. He served as North Munster President of the Irish Dental Association (IDA), as a member of the IDA Council, and as an IDA negotiator during the 2006 national review of the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS).
As part of a five-member negotiating team, he contributed to discussions concerning the development of a new contractual framework for the DTSS.
This negotiation was independently chaired by Finbarr Flood (former Managing Director (Guinness) and Chairman of the Labour Courts).
National Role
In 2007, he was appointed as one of twenty National Examining Dentists participating in the Health Service Executive’s one-year pilot programme examining probity within the DTSS.
In this role, he undertook reviews of probity within the scheme, with findings reported through the Health Service Executive to the Department of Health and Children.
2010 - A Change in Direction
In 2010, Dr O’Dwyer stepped away from full-time general dental practice to pursue postgraduate education and broaden his involvement in clinical leadership and dental service development.
Corporate Dentistry
2010-2020 and beyond
Smiles Dental - (2011-2015)
Appointed by CEO, Emmet O’Neill, as National Clinical Director (NCD) with Smiles Dental in January 2012, Dr O’Dwyer became the first ever NCD of the first corporate dental company in Ireland.
Between 2011 and 2015, Smiles Dental underwent rapid transformation from an Irish dental chain into a major UK–Irish corporate group. By 2012, Smiles operated 17 Irish practices, with 75 dentists and over 100 nursing and administrative staff.
Its acquisition of James Hull Associates added more than 70 UK practices, creating substantial scale. By 2014, Smiles operated 77 practices, employed approximately 350 dentists and 650 other staff, and generated annual turnover of approximately £70 million (€84 million). Following its 2014 acquisition by Oasis Healthcare, the enlarged Oasis group reported turnover of £234 million for the year ending March 2015
Dr O’Dwyer was at the forefront of clinical operations in Ireland during this expansion - and gained vital experience in better understanding the financial drivers for large scale dentistry. Workforce planning, clinical standards, continuous professional development and clinical leadership were all part of this wide ranging role.
During this role, Dr O’Dwyer returned to University - and earned a 2H1 Honours Masters degree in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (Institute of Leadership).
Dental Care Ireland - (2016-2020)
Recruited by Chief Executive Officer, Colm Davitt, Dr O’Dwyer assumed the role of Group Clinical Advisor at Dental Care Ireland in 2016.
Between 2016 and 2020, Dental Care Ireland (DCI) developed rapidly as an Irish-owned dental corporate, pursuing an acquisition-led strategy focused on established local practices.
By 2017, DCI operated 11 practices, employed approximately 150 staff and generated annual turnover of around €10 million.
By 2018, the network had expanded to 13 practices, turnover had increased to approximately €13 million and employment approached 200 people.
Expansion continued through 2019 and 2020; DCI operated 15 practices in early 2020 and continued acquiring practices despite the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing a significant national dental network.
Dr O’Dwyer was again at the forefront of organic growth of an Irish corporate, providing clinical support, recruitment supervision, negotiating service level agreements and overseeing clinical due diligence for acquisition.
Portman Dentex Ireland - (2021 - )
Dr O’Dwyer is currently a (part time) Group Clinical Advisor to Portman Dentex Ireland - recruited by then CEO, Julie Ross and then Clinical Director, Dr Mark Hamburger.
Portman Dentex has emerged as a significant new entrant to Irish corporate dentistry. Portman Dental Care entered the Republic of Ireland in 2021, acquiring its first Irish practice and expanding to five practices by 2023. In 2023, Portman merged with Dentex Health, creating Portman Dentex, a group of more than 370 practices, supported by over 2,400 clinicians and 4,500 practice colleagues across the UK and Ireland. Irish expansion has continued through practice acquisition, including Portobello Dental Clinic in Dublin in 2025. The group continues actively pursuing acquisitions, positioning Ireland as a growth market within its wider European dental strategy.
Dr O’Dwyer continues to play a role in helping shape the Irish section of this company - advising on both regulatory changes, workforce planning and clinical advice.
Post Graduate Study
Academic Researcher & Educator
Delivering the Master’s Thesis for
the degree of
MSc in Healthcare Management, 2015
Research and Doctoral Studies
With the successful completion of an MSc in Healthcare Management at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 2015 - Dr O’Dwyer returned to RCSI once more - to commence doctoral research examining non-verbal communication within the dental surgery setting.
This research forms part of his studies towards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the School of Population Health, RCSI.
He successfully gained a place on the prestigious SPHeRE Programme (Structured Population Health, Policy and Health-services Research Education), a structured doctoral training programme supporting research capacity in population health, health policy, health economics and finance and health-services research.
A protocol for the primary scoping review underpinning this studies of his doctoral research has been published and peer reviewed in HRB Open Research:
https://hrbopenresearch.org/articles/5-49
Academic Education and Teaching
Dr O’Dwyer has an extensive academic teaching portfolio spanning undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare education. At undergraduate level, he has designed, developed, delivered and examined educational content for the RCSI Medicine programme, including teaching within Tomorrow’s Healthcare Professional (THP) and Direct Entry Medicine Programme Year III - and Graduate Entry Medicine Year III.
He has also designed, developed and delivered undergraduate teaching for the RCSI Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) programme (Years I and II).
At postgraduate level, he has designed, developed, delivered and examined teaching across several RCSI programmes, including the Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership (PDiCL), MSc in Healthcare Innovation and Leadership, and MSc in Healthcare Management.
His academic contribution additionally encompasses postgraduate research supervision, supporting scholars across RCSI MSc programmes. This includes supervision within the MSc in Professionalism and Ethics, working alongside Professor Denis Harkin and colleagues.
In recognition of his contribution to education, Dr O’Dwyer has been nominated for the RCSI Alumni Award for “Inspiring Educator” in each year since the award’s inception: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. This sustained recognition reflects a continuing commitment to the development and delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare education alongside his clinical, leadership and doctoral research activities.
Advocacy and International Dentistry
Pierre Fauchard Academy - Elected Fellow (2005) - F.P.F.A
Elected European Trustee - Pierre Fauchard Academy (2019)
Elected Fellow, American College of Dentists (2022) - F.A.C.D.
Elected Fellow, College of General Dentistry (2025) - F.C.G.Dent
Appointed Trustee, Dental Health Foundation (2023)
Dr Paul O’Dwyer
BDS MSc FPFA FACD FCGDent
Dental Surgeon
Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School of Healthcare Management, RCSI
Adjunct Senior Lecturer, University Dental School and Hospital, UCC