With a worsening recruitment crisis, Matt Everatt questions the future of dental technology – are we able to train more dental technicians in time?
Just over a year ago, I wrote my third article about the decline in numbers of dental technicians. With recruitment still being an issue, I thought a follow up was long overdue. Let me start this article by hitting on some positive points about dental technology, dental technicians and dental laboratories.
After the pandemic, the majority of laboratories bounced back with a vengeance, with many saying they had never been busier. It would appear that demand is exceeding supply!
We have access to new incredible technologies, the profiles of dental technicians are on the rise, and quality is arguably better than it has ever been. I couldn’t think of a better time to be involved in dental technology or a better time to start a new laboratory.
I am an advocate of advancing the skills and improving education for dental technicians, raising our profiles within the profession, and forging relationships between all groups of dental care professional and dentists.
The hard facts
It would be foolish of me to walk around with rose tinted glasses on all the time; I do remove them from time to time and look at the stark facts. Sometimes I have to have difficult conversations with peers about the future of dental technology, often raising issues about registration and legislation.
Let us look at some of the statistics and hard facts we have to face. It is no secret that the number of registered dental technicians is on the decline. If you’ve tried recruiting recently, you will understand.
In December of 2008, some 7,460 dental technicians were on the General Dental Council’s (GDC) register.
Looking at the latest figures published by the GDC on 15 November 2023, we see that there are just 5,076 are now on the register. Almost a 32% decrease in the last 15 years. This is a huge decline in numbers, and we can’t put that down to technological advances improving output and not needing as many technicians – not yet anyway.
We have seen the number of registered dentists increasing year on year, and the demand for dental services has seen a huge increase in the number of patients seeking dental treatments. Since 2017, surveys suggest a 10% increase in private general dental services, and 15% for private cosmetic work. The demand for high quality restorations, prosthesis and laboratory custom made appliances is increasing.
Bubble about to burst
In the short term, as I mentioned in my opening comments, this is great news for labs. Demand is high, the opportunities are endless, quality of work has improved, salaries have increased, there is more investment in better equipment, prices have increased, which is attracting better customers and improving staff recruitment and retention. It is a great time to be a dental professional.
In the medium term, not even long term, we have a recruitment crisis bubble. And I cannot help but feel it is about to burst.
In 2022, there were just 119 dental technicians added to the register with UK registrable qualifications. A further eight came from overseas, making a total of 127 newly registered dental technicians.
On average, we have lost approximately 160 dental technicians per year.
We are potentially looking at a further issue, as several reports suggest the average age of dental technician is 55-57 years old. This would suggest an even bigger problem is on the horizon when this ‘top heavy’ number of technicians retire in the next few years.
Qualification providers
When I did my research for the last article, I read of an estimated 10 UK providers of education offering entry level/registrable qualifications. Some of the college and university representatives have been very happy to share some of their information on student numbers and pass rates.
- London South Bank Technical College (Lambeth) – Approximately 60 students currently studying either part time or full time on a two to three year course. Approximately 20-40 qualify annually
- The Sheffield College – Capacity to take two cohorts of 18 students per year. Around 55% of students go on to become registered dental technicians. Other students have used the transferrable knowledge and skills to apply for higher education programmes including dental hygiene/therapy and other health related programmes, including nursing and paramedic science
- University of Aberdeen – Offers a diploma of higher education (DipHE). There are eight students currently enrolled on a three year programme. All students have to be employed within dental labs
- Nottingham College – The are 10 students due to complete with a BTEC in summer 2024. Another 14 students are enrolled on the foundation degree course – 12 in the first year and two in the second year
- University of Bolton – Offers several qualifications in dental technology from foundation degrees to masters. It gas around 70 full time students enrolled in the first and second years, with 18 in the third year. It also has a further 25 part time students studying across the qualifications
- Yeovil College – It has started a new apprenticeship scheme offering a level 4 qualification, leading to obtaining a foundation degree. The apprenticeship scheme is fully funded and the students are able to earn while they learn
- *Cardiff Met University – Offers foundation degrees and BSc in dental technology as well as various other distance learning options at postgraduate level
- *The City of Liverpool College – Offers foundation degrees via the Open University
- *University of Worcester/Birmingham Met College – Offers foundation degrees over a two or three year period.
Huge void
Judging by the number of dental technicians registering with the GDC in 2022, at the very best, that equates to less than 12 students qualifying per institution and joining the profession. I have also been told that Pearsons, which oversees the BTEC qualification, plans to stop validating the qualification in 2025. This will leave a huge void in qualifications available to those people wanting to train as a dental technician.
I spoke with Julie Barker, Head of School at the Sheffield College about the BTEC qualification disappearing and if any plans were in place. She said: ‘This is still unclear, although it is thought that all dental technicians would need to achieve their foundation degree to become GDC registrants. This was alluded to some years ago and now looks like this will be happening.
‘Currently there is no intention to extend the BTEC registration deadline of the extended diploma programme nor any alternative programme to be offered. We are already working with our apprenticeship team and a local dental laboratory to secure a programme that is fit for purpose and, most importantly, that will address the alarming skills gap in dental technology.’
Work to do
I live in the hope that our industry representatives at the Dental Laboratories Association (DLA) and Dental Technologists Association (DTA) are already ahead of the game and have a plan for the educational needs of our future technicians.
I know there has been a lot of hard work put in by the likes of David Smith and his team at Yeovil College by bringing in the pilot scheme for dental technician apprenticeships. Having a more vocational route to a dental technology qualification does seem to be a very logical step forward.
The success, of course, will rely upon the support offered by the laboratory industry. Apprenticeships will be a roaring success if we come together as a laboratory community and support the students, colleges and universities.
As for now, I am very positive about dental technology and the future for our laboratories and technicians. We are at a crossroads in many ways, in a good way. We have some incredible leaders within our professions and I truly believe the future is bright.
There is some work we need to do in regards to attracting school leavers and adults onto our training programmes. This is something we can all play a part in by attending schools, job fairs and in general communicating positively about a future in our profession.
*Information of student numbers was not available – data taken from institution’s websites.
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