Survey reveals the impact of staff shortages on wellbeing

In the Dental Protection survey of over 1,300 dental professionals in the UK, over a third (36 per cent) also say fear of dentolegal issues arising from staff shortages negatively impacts their mental health.

Yvonne Shaw, deputy dental director at Dental Protection, said, “Dentistry is still a rewarding profession – being able to improve oral health, and the quality of life of the public is a privilege which instils a sense of professional satisfaction. However, morale in the profession seems to be at a low ebb, and wellbeing concerns are central to this.

“Demand for dental services remains high, the environment is increasingly challenging and there is a limit on what can be done within available capacity. Clearly some dental professionals are not taking breaks during the working day and are skipping meals, foregoing essential nourishment as a result. This is exacerbated by work overload and staff shortages.