Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of dental professionals said they are frequently burnt out and exhausted, while almost one in five (18 per cent) described their mental wellbeing as “of concern”, according to a survey from Dental Protection.

In the survey of more than 1,600 dental professionals in the UK – including dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and therapists - half (50 per cent) said they feel under pressure to take on extra work, and a similar amount (48 per cent) said they feel disillusioned.

Yvonne Shaw, deputy dental director at Dental Protection, said, “It is troubling, though unfortunately not surprising, to see that such a high proportion of dental professionals are burnt out and exhausted, and the degree to which their mental wellbeing is compromised.

“We see firsthand how poor mental wellbeing adversely impacts colleagues in their personal and professional lives, and in turn impacts the delivery of patient care. We know that without early support, these issues can lead to dental professionals needing extended time off work or leaving dentistry altogether.”

In the anonymous comments left by respondents, many said they are working excessive hours to try and meet unmanageable demand for NHS appointments. Others discussed staff shortages, the target driven culture, and financial concerns due to the low reimbursement rates paid by the government for NHS treatment not meeting operational costs.

Yvonne added, “I would also like to reassure members that we will continue to campaign for the delivery of key reforms that we know could benefit dental professionals’ wellbeing, practice and their patients. This includes NHS contract reform and the introduction of measures which support dental teams to deliver optimised patient care as well as ensuring appropriate remuneration.

“The government is expected to set out a 10-year NHS strategy in 2025 and a key plank must be providing a clear timetable for NHS contract reform.

“GDC reform is also vital to give the profession confidence that if a concern were to be raised about them it would be dealt with fairly, efficiently and sensitively.”

For more information visit https://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/dentolegal-advice/counselling-service

Author: