Workforce planning in dentistry: the impact of shorter and more varied career patterns

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency and duration of career breaks taken by three groups of dental health care professionals and to assess the impact of these and changes in working hours on human resource planning. BACKGROUND: Dental personnel planning has been the subject of recent attention, particularly the role of professionals complementary to dentistry. Data on which to plan a dental personnel strategy have been lacking. METHOD: Questionnaire survey of a random sample of 10% of dental practitioners, and of all dental therapists and dental hygienists registered with the General Dental Council. The proportion of each group who had taken a career break at some point during their career was analysed for each professional group. RESULTS: A larger proportion of female general dental practitioners (61%) than male practitioners (27%) take a break in their career at some point during their working lives. The proportion of hygienists who take career breaks is similar (57%) to the proportion of female GDPs. The proportion of dental therapists who take a career break (who in this sample were all female) is 71%. The duration of career breaks taken by women is longer than that for males, the median length of career breaks for male dental practitioners is 4 months; female dental practitioners 9 months; hygienists 11 months; therapists 11.5 months. Female GDPs who take a career break can be expected to have a working life 25% shorter than a GDP who does not take a career break. CONCLUSIONS: As the proportion of female general dental practitioners increases, and with the possible expansion of the role of professionals complementary to dentistry, there is likely to be an increase in the proportion of dental personnel who take a career break during their working lives. Planning of dental personnel requirements should consider the likely effect of career breaks upon the availability of dental staff.