BDA study highlights lack of jobs for young dentists

The British Dental Association (BDA) has published new research that highlights the lack of jobs available to young dentists in the UK.

According to the study, approximately 12 per cent of dentists completing their vocational or foundation training last summer had not secured a permanent role before its conclusion.

For the second year running, a growing proportion of trainees in England and Wales who participated in the research reported that they were obtaining posts in primary salaried or hospital dentistry.

This comes after Health Education England and the Centre for Workforce Intelligence recently warned that the current number of places for dental students needs to be reduced to avoid an oversupply of dentists.

The BDA accepts the need to consider this possibility, but warned that any decision on this matter must be considered with caution.

Dr Judith Husband, chair of the BDA's education, ethics and dental team committee, said: "These are difficult decisions that must be made, implemented and monitored with great care and in dialogue with the profession and the academic institutions they will affect."