BDA: High costs are deterring potential dental students

The British Dental Association (BDA) has raised concerns that excessive tuition fees are preventing potentially talented students from pursuing a career in dentistry.

Qualitative research carried out by the BDA has suggested that the Student Loan Company is failing to take into account the longer terms experienced by dental students, with formulas calculated to account for 30 weeks of tuition, rather than 40.

Moreover, it was suggested that some dental students are postponing or even abandoning plans to specialise in areas such as maxillofacial surgery and periodontics, due to the extra costs involved.

Final-year student members of the BDA are now being called upon to respond to a survey on this issue to provide a clearer picture of the impact of debt on trainee dentists.

Dr Paul Blaylock, chair of the BDA's student committee, said: "We believe that entrants to dental courses must be selected on merit, not their ability to pay course fees – so that the best, brightest and most caring candidates are able to join the profession."

Last month, BDA principal executive committee chair Dr Martin Fallowfield warned that the dentistry sector is facing challenging conditions at present, due to economic weakness and a changing regulatory landscape.