Team approach recommended to tackle dental workforce gap

The report also revealed that many of the vacancies went unfilled for over 180 days, as the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has warned that the priority should be filling the massive gap in the total dental workforce. The ADG has also said there are over 3,000 positions, across NHS and private, for fully-trained dentists that are vacant.

The PAC report has invited stakeholders’ input on the incremental changes to support patient access whilst longer term reform takes place. It has also called for engagement from the profession in determining what future reform should look like. The ADG has emphasised the recognition given to the need to ensure remuneration for the true costs of dentistry. The association has long-advocated that NHS dentistry needs to be financially sustainable.