The United Kingdom's specialist workforce in paediatric dentistry: current and future trends.
OBJECTIVE
To provide information relevant to the current and predicted future profile of the UK's specialist workforce in paediatric dentistry.


METHODS
Postal questionnaire.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-one registered dentists whose names appeared on the Specialist List in Paediatric Dentistry and who were identified as resident within the United Kingdom.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned by 192 specialists, a response rate of 86.9%. This paper is, however, based on data provided by 187 respondents currently practising in the United Kingdom (54 (28.9%) male and 133 (71.1%) female). The majority of respondents were based in England (138) and practised in hospital settings (120). Eighty-two respondents (14 males and 68 females) stated that they were working part-time and 57 (5 males and 52 females) indicated that they had already taken a break at some time during their career. Eighty-four (45.2%) respondents plan to retire during the next ten years.


CONCLUSIONS
Working patterns associated with a feminised workforce will have a considerable impact on the volume of service that can be provided. Workforce planners must be cognisant of the need to increase the number of specialists in training to take account of service lost through part-time working and career breaks.
Cardiff University, School of Dentistry, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY. hunterml@cardiff.ac.uk
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Hunter
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Harrhy
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Morgan
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003253:Consultants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D011215:Practice Management, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012179:Retirement; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce