A number of irate dental patients were left with a dull ache yesterday when they learned that a specialist who has been treating them for years was no longer permitted to work on the Island.

Dr. Ian Vogan, who has been working on the Island for more than a decade can no longer treat local patients after being told a qualified Bermudian was available to do the job.

Dr. Vogan is a registered periodontist who has been coming to Bermuda every few months and working out of Dr. Stephen Fay?s office at the Paget Dental Group.

He recently applied to have his work permit renewed after it expired last year, but the Department of Immigration did not grant his request when a local dentist, Dr. David Dyer, submitted an application to perform periodontal work.

Periodontists treat gum disease which if left untreated can contribute to heart disease and Alzheimer?s disease. Without periodontal work people can suffer from chronic inflammation of the gums and loosening of the teeth.

Periodontal procedures allow dentists to fit the teeth with proper fillings and crowns.

Dr. Vogan?s patients were furious to learn at the last minute that the professional they rely upon was no longer allowed to treat them.

Patient Stephen Hayward swears he will not let another local dentist ?stick their fingers in his mouth?.

He was scheduled for periodontal work yesterday morning and was shocked to learn it was cancelled.

?I am infuriated that Immigration can make the glib statement about who can and who cannot do something as important as dental work and to a person like me who relies on good quality dental work,? he said.

A retired firefighter, Mr. Hayward said he was referred to Dr. Dyer but he will not be satisfied unless his teeth are treated by a specialist.

And he thinks the decision to stop Dr. Vogan?s work permit was purely financial.

?They just want a bigger piece of the pie, it?s not like the Bermudian dentists will be waiting in a bread line,? he said.

Allan Whitecross, another patient of Dr. Vogan?s said he received a call yesterday morning and was told the tooth which has been hurting him for months could not be fixed.

?I thought about jumping on the plane and going to the States and getting it done, but when I looked at the cost I thought I could get it done locally as long as it?s done properly,? he said.

?I have no faith in the Department of Immigration and in the local Government.?

Dr. Fay, whose office Dr. Vogan has been working from, said yesterday many of his former patients will have to leave the Island if they want work done by a registered specialist.

?Dr. Vogan is world class, he has a CV that is seven pages long,? said Dr. Fay.

?Patients are livid, this is a high ticket item, they want their dental work done by a qualified professional.?

Dr. Fay, who is a member of the Bermuda Dental Association, says he does not know of a registered periodontist on the Island.

Dr. Dyer submitted his application through the Bermuda Dental Board, the governing body of dentists which the Department of Immigration consults when making decisions about granting work permit requests.

Rosie Azhar, Assistant Chief Immigration Officer, says the Department of Immigration consulted the Bermuda Dental Board, the Governing Association of Dentists, and are satisfied with their decision not to renew Dr. Vogan?s permit.

?This is not against a specific person, we are satisfied that a qualified Bermudian can offer this service,? she said.

Dr. Vogan said, in the past, about four out of five local dentists would refer their patients to him for work and when on the Island he saw about ten patients a day.

He said he has not seen Dr. Dyer?s name listed as a registered specialist in Bermuda, Canada or the UK.

Dr. Vogan has 33 years experience as a periodontist and as a professor at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. He is also a Governor on the Canadian Dental Association Board.

?I have grave concerns about the motivation of people who are making this decision,? he said.

?I am also frustrated and concerned about the health of people in Bermuda in general.?

Dr. Dyer is off the Island and could not be reached for comment. Dr. Richard Cann of the Bermuda Dental Board also refused to comment.