The evolution of the dental team: influences on oral health

Previous authors of Dental Nursing (Marshall, 2014; Singh, 2014) have discussed the opportunities that exist for dental nurses within the dental team and how these opportunities can contribute to the delivery of patient care. These opportunities have occurred as a result of a number of political, financial and social positions that have, perhaps, influenced and shaped the direction of travel when considering the evolution of the dental workforce.

Since its formation in 1948, the NHS has developed and evolved into a complicated range of health and social care services (Glasby, 2012). The NHS is currently experiencing the most significant restructure in its history, which directly affects dental care services. The introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 abolished primary care trusts (PCTs) and transferred the commissioning of services to NHS England (General Dental Council (GDC), 2013a; NHS, 2013; Gorsky et al, 2014).