We are launching our second Dentistry Census – and we want you to be involved!
In 2021, we undertook the first ever Dentistry Census, the most comprehensive survey the UK dental profession has seen.
From August to September 2021, Dentistry undertook a deep dive into the current state of the profession and the future implications for dentistry. Last year, we released these findings in a first-of-its-kind (and free to access) white paper.
At Dentistry, we pride ourselves on having the finger on the pulse of the profession. Now, with support from Denplan, we are launching the second Dentistry Census. Once closed, we will share findings, shine a light on trends and highlight challenges, so dental teams across the UK stay better informed and better equipped for what lays ahead.
We need you!
Have you always wondered what people really feel about NHS dentistry or what the UK average salary for your role is? Or maybe you want to know the most popular treatment provisions.
If so, we need you to get involved!
Whether you’re a dentist, dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental therapist, or dental technician – we need all members of the dental team to take part so we can share the most up to date and accurate findings in the profession.
What’s more, everyone who gets involved will get a £10 Amazon voucher when submitting a completed questionnaire!
‘If knowledge is power, then we want the Dentistry Census to put the power back into the hands of dental practices ,’ said Guy Hiscott, FMC’s content director.
‘The very nature of dental practice makes it almost impossible to get effective answers to some of the most important questions in peoples’ working lives: am I being paid enough? Are my team being paid enough? Where does my practice compare to the one down the road?
‘It’s easy to forget how helpful it can be to have a clear picture of how you compare to your peers – on any level. So our aim with the Census is to deliver some clear, impartial information on every aspect of dentistry. By doing that we want to create a resource that helps everyone understand the shape of modern practice more effectively.
‘But it’s dependent on collective effort. At a really basic level, the more responses we get, the more accurate the findings are – so it pays everyone to get involved. Please, take half an hour out of your day to add your details and contribute: every response really does make a difference.’
Get involved
The Dentistry Census has now launched and it’s open to all those working in dentistry.
It will ask a range of questions on:
- Clinical life
- Average salaries
- General demographics
- Impact of the cost of living and COVID-19
- NHS/private dentistry
- Social media
- Regulation
- Mental health.
The results will then provide the most comprehensive report on UK dentistry in 2023.
‘We learned a lot of lessons from the first outing,’ Guy added. ‘But the areas that resonated most strongly with our audience – beyond financial stats – were our questions around sentiment.
‘The Census gave us a really powerful barometer of how people in dentistry feel. It threw up some valuable insight into where the profession’s mental health is being affected. On a more positive note, it told us that most people enjoy their work – and it predicted the private dentistry boom too!
‘Given the tumultuous circumstances of the last two years, it would be foolish to predict that that stress has gone away. But it’s hard to tell exactly where people’s sentiments lie right now.
‘We know only too well what the challenges facing general practice are – but if we can come away with some concrete data that we can put in front of policy makers and add some extra pressure to the questions around change, I’ll consider it a success.
‘I can’t wait to see what picture the profession will paint of itself in 2023.’
Take part by simply visiting www.dentistry.co.uk/census.
