Over eight in ten dental therapists (82%) in the UK who took part in a survey said they have gone to work or continued to work despite their mental health suffering, and 50% said they feel guilty if they take time off due to mental wellbeing issues.
The Dental Protection survey of more than 1,600 dental professionals in the UK, including almost 330 hygienists and therapists, showed similar results for dental hygienists, with 74% working or continuing to work and 59% feeling guilty about taking time off.
Half of the dental hygienists (50%) and dental therapists (49%) who responded said they feel they should keep working even when their mental health is suffering, with a similar number – 48% hygienists and 51% therapists – saying there was nobody else to cover for them if they did not attend.
Two thirds (66%) of dental therapists and three in five dental hygienists (60%) cited financial reasons for continuing to work.
Almost half of dental hygienists (49%) and dental therapists (46%) who took part said working while their mental health is suffering had led to a loss of concentration, and over a third of hygienists (36%) and therapists (38%) said it had led to a lack of empathy with patients.
Two in five dental hygienists (41%) and a quarter (25%) of therapists also suspected that working while their mental health is suffering may have contributed to a lower standard of care.
Yvonne Shaw, Deputy Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “It does not surprise me that dental professionals put their patients’ interests above their own.
“It is however distressing that such a large proportion of colleagues say they are continuing to work despite not feeling mentally well enough to do so. The reasons cited highlight the pressures of delivering NHS care and unrelenting demands of managing patient backlogs and meeting targets, alongside financial pressures and lack of cover.
“The current pressures are unsustainable and dental professionals must feel able to take time off to recuperate or seek support. We see the impact of burn-out and the sad reality of colleagues having to take extended time off work, or even leaving dentistry altogether. Alongside this, working when our mental health is suffering can adversely impact the delivery of patient care which those taking part in our survey have shared.
“At Dental Protection, we continue to campaign for the delivery of key reforms that we know could benefit dental professionals’ wellbeing. These include expansion and better use of the dental workforce, NHS contract reform and addressing access to care, alongside the introduction of measures that support dental teams to deliver optimised patient care and ensure appropriate remuneration.
“The Government is expected to set out a 10-year NHS strategy soon and a key plank must be providing a clear timetable for NHS contract reform. A realistic new model for the provision of NHS dental care is urgently required to improve the working conditions for dental professionals, thereby protecting patients and safeguarding the future of NHS dentistry.
“I would also like to remind Dental Protection members, that we offer a 24/7 counselling service as a benefit of membership, for colleagues experiencing stress that they feel could impact their practice. The service is entirely confidential and independent of Dental Protection.”
