Covid Takes Its Toll On Young Dentists
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- Published: Tuesday, 01 March 2022 08:00
- Written by Guy Tuggle
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Dental surgeons are no strangers to stress and anxiety, but the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftershock has poured rocket fuel on the levels of anxiety experienced the profession’s younger clinicians.
A survey by leading indemnity provider Dental Protection reveals that 37% of dentists who qualified in the last five years worry about the impact of the pandemic on their wellbeing, while 49% say the backlog of treatments is now having an effect on their mental wellbeing.
Young dentists predominantly work in NHS practices. Unlike their more experienced elders they are still in a learning environment as they wrestle with UDA targets and the clinical needs of diverse communities. Long delays in treatment delivery are testing the patience of patients and Dental protection is reporting a surge in demand for support from members seeking help.
“The backlog is a worry because patients take it out on the dental staff and not the NHS who set how we work within the system” one dentist said. “Mental health is in tatters, go to work for an NHS practice in a deprived area, deal with rude ungrateful and verbally abusive and intimidating patients all day to no thanks” commented another whilst a third summed up how many feel: “I can’t cope anymore. I’m moving practice but if the situation with people’s rudeness doesn’t improve, I will be leaving healthcare.”
Just over a third – 35% - of the young dentists reported working additional hours and, worryingly, only 49% answer to say that they felt ‘positive’ about their future in dentistry.
At a time when the NHS dental service is widely recognised to be in need of intensive care if it is to survive in anything like the structure clinicians seek and the public needs, the findings of Dental Protection’s survey do not bode well.
George Wright, Senior Dental Educator at Dental Protection said “It is particularly worrying that under half of the early career dentists surveyed say they feel positive about their future in the dentistry. We know that clearing the backlog is an overwhelming prospect for the whole dental team, but it is imperative that these young dentists – the future of the profession – feel supported and engaged by the whole system so they can continue in this rewarding profession.”
“Counselling is available and should be sought” said Mr Wright whose organisation provides a twenty-four hours helpline plus online resources including podcasts and webinars.
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