The first Dentistry Census identified workplace stress as a major issue among dental professionals – get involved in the second survey to see how stress levels have changed in the past two years.
With the second Dentistry Census now open, we will soon see how the dental profession has changed in the two years that have passed since the first survey.
The previous census data brought together information and views from more than 800 dental professionals. In particular, it highlighted several key problems faced by dental professionals.
Workplace stress
One of the major issues identified by the first census was stress. More than half of dentists (53%) and 37% of dental nurses felt that they did not have a good work-life balance.
While developed as an important evolutionary response to danger, stress can have serious health implications in the long term. Positive psychologist, Mahrukh Khwaja, suggests that stress can affect memory, learning, concentration, judgement and social interaction. Clearly, these are essential functions for those working in dentistry.
In 2021, 61% of all respondents felt their relationships had suffered as a result of work-related stress. Additionally, nearly 50% routinely felt nervous because of their work, and more than 30% regularly felt depressed.
These troubling statistics may be partially explained by circumstance. Naturally, 2021 was a particularly stressful time in the dental profession and beyond due to COVID-19.
However, many dental professionals and practices are still feeling the impact of the pandemic two years on. Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association Principal Executive Committee, commented that ‘we’re certainly not back to any sense of normality’.
He added: ‘I think getting back to what we did pre-pandemic isn’t going to happen in the short term.’
There are also many new and continuing problems affecting the sector, from recruitment difficulty to the cost-of-living crisis. The question of whether stress levels among dental staff have improved since 2021 therefore remains.
Submit your response
The second Dentistry Census will shed light on this and other crucial issues in dentistry. But to provide this insight, we need to hear from you.
If you are a dentist, dental nurse, dental hygienist, dental therapist, practice manager or dental technician – submit your response to the census now!
Take part by simply visiting www.dentistry.co.uk/census.
