BDA warns government of tuition fee impact on dentistry

The British Dental Association (BDA) has warned the government of the potential impact that soaring tuition fees could have on the future of the UK dental profession.

In a submission of written evidence collected as part of a review of higher education reform, the BDA has noted that the prospect of newly-trained dentists being faced by debts of more than 50,000 pounds could be a major issue, reports Dentistry.co.uk.

The organisation expressed concern this will put many off from attempting to join the profession, particularly among low income or ethnic minority families, resulting in a lack of diversity in the trade.

"It is natural for students to seek to maximise their earning potential. With the potential decline in the number of practice owners, the NHS may well suffer from a lack of dentists in the future," it said.

Although the BDA accepts the need for reform, it suggested not enough thought has been applied to the planned measures, while highlighting the need for continued investment.

This comes after BDA executive board chair Dr Susie Sanderson stated last month that government mishandling of the dental industry has made now the worst time in living memory to be a dentist.