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Lookup NU author(s): Sarah Simpson, Chris Wallace, Professor Chris VernazzaORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to the British Dental Association. Background Exploration of workforce confidence and attitudes towards the provision of paediatric dental care has the potential to inform targeted workforce development to address the oral health needs of children. Aims To explore: workforce confidence in providing paediatric dentistry; attitudes towards existing paediatric dental service provision; and perceived capacity and willingness to deliver Level 2 paediatric dental services. Methods An anonymous online survey was distributed to regional primary care and early-career dentists. It was distributed via Local Dental Committee Chairs, Community Dental Service Clinical Directors, a regional research collaborative and social media for a six-week period. Results Eighty-eight respondents self-reported confidence in 28 paediatric dental skills/competencies. Overall, 64% of respondents rated themselves as confident or very confident, with the least confidence reported in endodontic treatment of immature teeth and prescribing removable orthodontic appliances. In addition, 66% of respondents felt that the current provision of paediatric dental services was inadequate and 44% expressed willingness to provide Level 2 paediatric dental services. Conclusion High levels of confidence were reported in most paediatric dental skills/competencies. Current regional provision of paediatric dental services was described as inadequate. There is willingness and capacity within the existing workforce to provide Level 2 paediatric dental services.
Author(s): Simpson S, Wallace CK, Vernazza CR
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: British Dental Journal
Year: 2022
Pages: Epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 18/03/2022
Acceptance date: 05/07/2021
Date deposited: 14/07/2021
ISSN (print): 0007-0610
ISSN (electronic): 1476-5373
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4045-9
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-022-4045-9
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