What does the data say about dentistry?

What does the data say about dentistry?

Neil Carmichael highlights the importance of gathering robust data for understanding the dental landscape in 2025.

When we consider the landscape we face into this year, it is important for us to make sure we consider the data we have carefully. Due to the nature of how dentistry is delivered, in either independent or group practices, there are few true data points that are gathered centrally.

We hear many anecdotal comments, but backing it up is critical if we are to really understand how we can create change and more access for patients. While we may feel that this is an impossible task, there have been strides forwards in the last year or so. The collection of registrant data by the GDC is providing a view of how all registrant groups are working, and that will build more of a picture year on year.

Building a picture of workforce data

Understanding the whole workforce is imperative, and also the information as to whether people are working in the private, NHS or community sectors. Without this important information any workforce planning will not consider the full extent of the mixed economy of dentistry and how patient care needs to be delivered in order to provide access to as many as possible.

The ADG also does a yearly members survey which helps to build another picture. Understanding the way that groups are working can help add to the wider view of how dentistry is being delivered. Of course, we also have the data that the NHS collects in each jurisdiction.

As with all data, the way it is collected and the questions asked need to be evaluated with a broad mind. Often we can feel one piece of data collection causes us to ask more questions than are answered, but if that means we search for further data, that is no bad thing!

Vacancies in the NHS

Data published by NHS England for the period to the end of March 2024 showed that there were 2,749 full time equivalent (FTE) NHS dentist vacancies. That is a lot of vacancies, especially when you relate it into patient care. On it’s own, it is a single point of data. You could chose to interpret it in different ways, but you would probably be drawn to think this is a contract issue.

Yet if you add that there were 411 FTE private vacancies you see that the problem is not just for NHS positions. While we know that the contract is a concern and reform is necessary, it will not fix the 411 private vacancies and the potential for the increase in access to dentistry that would create, albeit under a different payment model.

If we are to work to solve the problems, we need as much data as we can get across all sectors of the profession. We must then try to understand how each issue feeds into the others. We need to be open and honest within the profession and to the wider public. From this we can consider which parts the profession can work to solve itself, and where the ADG need to work with stakeholders and government to help create the change needed.

This article is sponsored by the Association of Dental Groups.

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