General Dental Council Publishes Dental Workforce Pattern Data

UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has released comprehensive data shedding light on the working patterns of dentists across the United Kingdom, aiming to better understand workforce challenges and facilitate informed discussions within the dental sector.

Insights from the Survey

With over 25,000 dentists participating in the survey, the data reveals several key highlights about the working patterns within the dental profession:

• Clinical Practice: A significant majority (85%) of responding dentists spend at least 75% of their time in clinical practice, emphasizing the centrality of hands-on patient care in their daily activities.
• Private vs. NHS Care: Notably, 19% of dentists reported providing exclusively private care, while only 15% are fully dedicated to NHS care. The data also indicates a substantial portion (38%) of dentists regularly work in both private and NHS settings.
• Working Hours: Over 40% of respondents indicated working 30 hours a week or less, reflecting diverse working arrangements within the profession.
• Specializations: Approximately 9% of dentists identified themselves as specialists, highlighting the breadth of expertise within the dental workforce.

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Significance of the Data

Stefan Czerniawski, Executive Director of Strategy at the GDC, emphasized the importance of this data in providing valuable insights into the challenges faced by dental professionals and patients alike. He underscored the role of this information in supporting informed decision-making by healthcare services, governments, dental providers, and professionals themselves.

The GDC plans to expand its data collection efforts to include dental care professionals (DCPs) later in the year, aiming to gather a comprehensive understanding of the entire dental team’s working patterns. Additionally, further analyses, including a detailed examination of dentists’ workplace locations, will be published in due course to enrich workforce planning discussions.

Commitment to Dental Transparency

The publication of this data at both the UK and individual country levels underscores the GDC’s commitment to fostering transparency and supporting effective workforce planning across the four nations. With a deeper understanding of dental professionals’ working patterns, stakeholders can collaborate more effectively to ensure patients receive the necessary dental care.

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