Dentistry requires a more flexible workforce with more expanded duties dental nurses and increased opportunities for dental care professionals to upskill and move into new roles.

That's according to Professor Chris Deery, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) member and chair of the Dental Schools Council.

Speaking at the Westminster Forum on 13 March on the topic of Next steps for dentistry in England, he said there needs to be a greater understanding by commissioners of the ways in which dentist and dental teams are educated is essential in order to secure the future NHS dental workforce.

He suggested that the dental profession should work with commissioners to build their understanding of dental education. Without that understanding, it was difficult for dental schools to get their educational model right.

He also foresees a shortage of dentists by 2024 and said: 'We need more dental hygienists and therapists, but not at the expense of dentists. I don’t think anyone would disagree that we need to increase the dental workforce.'

He advocates a more flexible workforce with more expanded duties dental nurses and also more opportunities for dental care professionals to move into new roles.

Professor Deery also touched on recruitment problems among research and teaching staff, endangering future dental education. He also highlighted inadequacy of the General Dental Service contract, which he said did nothing to foster prevention.

Clare Ledingham, Secretary of BSPD, was also a speaker at the event.

In her talk, she highlighted the issues around children’s oral health and explained the launch of Dental Check by One last September and its role in Smile for Life, the preventive programme for England.

Several other speakers referenced the importance of Dental Check One in the battle to reduce the high numbers of general anaesthetics for decayed teeth.

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