Two-thirds of dental professionals ‘burnt out and exhausted’

In the survey of more than 1,600 dental professionals in the UK – including dentists, dental nurses, hygienists and therapists - half (50 per cent) said they feel under pressure to take on extra work, and a similar amount (48 per cent) said they feel disillusioned.

Yvonne Shaw, deputy dental director at Dental Protection, said, “It is troubling, though unfortunately not surprising, to see that such a high proportion of dental professionals are burnt out and exhausted, and the degree to which their mental wellbeing is compromised.

“We see firsthand how poor mental wellbeing adversely impacts colleagues in their personal and professional lives, and in turn impacts the delivery of patient care. We know that without early support, these issues can lead to dental professionals needing extended time off work or leaving dentistry altogether.”