Dr Maurice Fitzgerald named Colgate Caring Dentist of the year for kindness and lifelong care shown for TBI survivor

• Dr Maurice Fitzgerald of Cleary Fitzgerald Dental Practice in Sligo named Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year 2025;
• Nominated for the award by the family of Brian Mallon who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury following an accident in Barcelona in 2023;
• Dr Maurice Fitzgerald and his team arranged ongoing dental care including multiple cleanings, fillings, and restorative treatments pro bono;
• The Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year Awards, organised by the Irish Dental Association, celebrate dentists across Ireland who go above and beyond for their patients;
• The Mallon family say: “Not only did Dr Fitzgerald restore Brian’s smile, but gave him back confidence and comfort and gave us all a reason to smile again.”

A Sligo dentist has been crowned the Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year for the kindness and care shown to a local man who suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Dr Maurice Fitzgerald of Cleary Fitzgerald Dental Practice in Sligo was nominated for the award by the family of Brian Mallon who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury following an accident in Barcelona in 2023.

Following nearly a year in hospital, Brian returned home and faced significant health challenges including urgent dental needs after a long period without treatment. Despite a full schedule, the Mallon family say Dr Maurice Fitzgerald and his team arranged ongoing dental care, ensuring that Brian was always accommodated when home from hospital or rehabilitation.

When Dr Maurice Fitzgerald learned of Brian’s situation, he reached out personally to offer to take Brian on as a patient completely pro bono, a commitment he has promised to continue for life.

Since then, Brian has received multiple cleanings, fillings, and restorative treatments, all without charge. Brian’s family say that he has been left with additional needs following his injury and requires a calm, supportive environment which is achievable through Dr Fitzgerald’s willingness to allow extra time at each visit and to ensure Brian feels comfortable and never rushed.

The Mallon family say: “Maurice has shown such extraordinary kindness and patience with Brian,”

“He not only restored Brian’s smile, but gave him back confidence and comfort and gave us all a reason to smile again. We will be forever grateful to Maurice and everyone at Cleary Fitzgerald for their generosity, compassion, and humanity”

The Mallon family wanted to find a meaningful way to express their gratitude, and so they nominated Dr. Maurice Fitzgerald for the Irish Dental Association’s Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year Awards.

Their heartfelt nomination led to national recognition at the awards ceremony held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dublin on Saturday, November 8th, 2025, Dr. Fitzgerald was named the overall winner of the Colgate Caring Dentist of the Year Award.

The honour celebrates not only his exceptional clinical skill but also his extraordinary compassion and commitment to patient care. For the Mallon family, it was a fitting acknowledgment of the kindness and generosity Dr. Fitzgerald and his team have shown throughout Brian’s journey to recovery.