More than eight in 10 dental nurses (84%) said they have continued to work despite a negative impact on their mental health in a new survey.
Two thirds (65%) of the nurses said they feel guilty if they take time off due to mental wellbeing issues. This figure was similar among all dental professionals (66%), while around half (49%) said they feel they should keep working even when their mental health is suffering.
More than half (56%) of the dental professionals cited financial reasons for not taking time off, and 47% said there would be no one to cover their absence if they did. One third also felt pressure from the demand for NHS appointments and the target-driven culture this creates.
The survey also explored the effects of working despite mental health issues on dental professionals’ work. A lack of concentration was noted by 56% of dental professionals, which increased to 65% among dental nurses. A further 46% of dental professionals noticed a lack of empathy with patients and greater fear of making mistakes. More than one third (34%) felt this could have contributed to a lower standard of care.
‘Dental professionals put their patients’ interests above their own’
These figures were collected as part of a survey of 1,600 UK dental professionals by Dental Protection.
Yvonne Shaw, deputy dental director at Dental Protection, said: ‘It does not surprise me that dental professionals put their patients’ interests above their own.
‘It is, however, distressing that such a large proportion of colleagues say they are continuing to work despite not feeling mentally well enough to do so. The reasons cited highlight the pressures of delivering care and unrelenting demands of managing patient backlogs and meeting targets, alongside financial pressures and lack of cover.
‘The current pressures are unsustainable and dental professionals must feel able to take time off to recuperate or seek support. We see the impact of burnout and the sad reality of colleagues having to take extended time off work, or even leaving dentistry altogether. Alongside this, working when our mental health is suffering can adversely impact the delivery of patient care which those taking part in our survey have shared.’
How can dental professionals’ mental health be improved?
Yvonne Shaw also discussed potential reforms that could improve the mental health and wellbeing of the dental profession.
She said: ‘At Dental Protection, we continue to campaign for the delivery of key reforms that we know could benefit dental professionals’ wellbeing. These include expansion and better use of the dental workforce, NHS contract reform and addressing access to care, alongside the introduction of measures that support dental teams to deliver optimised patient care and ensure appropriate remuneration.
‘The government is expected to set out a 10-year NHS strategy soon and a key plank must be providing a clear timetable for NHS contract reform. A realistic new model for the provision of NHS dental care is urgently required to improve the working conditions for dental professionals, thereby protecting patients and safeguarding the future of NHS dentistry.’
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