The dental workforce recruitment and retention crisis in the UK

Abstract

The precarious state of NHS dentistry is widely acknowledged, yet there is limited progress in addressing the underlying issues. Further delays will undoubtedly impact patient care, leading to oral health deterioration and unnecessary suffering. This will predominantly affect the most vulnerable in society, resulting in greater oral health inequalities. The underlying issues contributing to the current NHS dental crisis are many, and they include: prolonged delays in contract reform; long-term underinvestment; private sector growth; and fewer dentists working full-time and/or in the NHS. In England, an NHS dental contract that fails to promote prevention or equality of access continues to have a deep and pernicious impact on the future of NHS dentistry. The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access cannot be underestimated and neither should the effect of Brexit on the availability of workforce. The recruitment and retention of dentists, and other members of the dental team, is undoubtedly a major issue in terms of capacity and access to NHS dental care. These problems, seen across the UK, are a particular issue in England, with acute challenges within rural and coastal areas. There is an urgent necessity to develop coherent, multifaceted strategies, aided by the collection of clear and accurate workforce data, to tackle these issues.

Career aspirations of dually trained dental therapy and dental hygiene students from one London dental institute

“…54,55,56 Given their aspirations and relatively low numbers, the NHS in England possibly may find it difficult to attract DTs to makeup the workforce shortfall and deliver frontline care. 57 Furthermore, whilst in this study almost all of the responding students aspired to remain in dentistry and use both aspects of their dual qualification, recent research suggests that in reality DTs and dually qualified DTs do not necessarily use their full skills, 58,59 performing mostly dental hygiene duties, thereby resulting in under-utilisation of their skills in general dental practice. 58,59 Consideration should, therefore, be given to enabling dual trained DTs to make greater use of their therapy skills within the healthcare system.…”

Citizen science to improve patient and public involvement in GUideline Implementation in oral health and DEntistry (the GUIDE platform)

“…Self‐care information was clearly highly relevant to citizens on the platform, which is likely to be the reason that this topic received more attention. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic resulted in the closure of dental practices in the United Kingdom and subsequently patients have found it more difficult to access NHS oral health professionals 21,22 . Investing in self‐care was therefore seen as an unmet need.…”

The Oral Health and Dental Care special interest group

“…While there are recruitment and retention problems in all aspects of NHS dentistry, 3 this is particularly so in academic primary care dentistry. "Even though it can be hugely rewarding, academic training isn't viewed as a desirable pathway for the majority of young graduates," says Dr Mills.…”