Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Research
  • Published:

A survey of mental wellbeing and stress among dental therapists and hygienists in South West England

British Dental Journal (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction Mental health and wellbeing of the dental team has been brought into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this renewed interest, there has been longstanding issues with poor mental health and wellbeing in the dental profession for some time. While there is some evidence that documents poor mental wellbeing amongst dentists, there appears to be a lack of evidence concerning dental care professionals.

Aims To explore the level of mental wellbeing and stress amongst dental hygienists and therapists (DHTs) in South West England.

Method An online survey was distributed to DHTs in South West England via two professional networks.

Results A total of 129 surveys were completed. The mean levels of reported wellbeing were lower amongst DHTs than the general population and 45% of respondents reported high anxiety levels. Younger respondents reported lower levels of life satisfaction. Plus, 43.5% of dental therapists reported performing solely dental hygiene treatments, with those performing no dental therapy reporting lower happiness levels.

Conclusion Low mental wellbeing amongst DHTs in the South West has been identified in this survey and this is likely to impact negatively on the morale and motivation of the workforce, leading to increased levels of absenteeism and ultimately, loss of colleagues from the dental workforce. The stress encountered by DHTs is largely workplace-related and therefore, there is an increased need for team- and organisation-delivered interventions to improve mental wellbeing for this group.

Key points

  • Dental therapists and hygienists in South West England experience low levels of mental wellbeing compared to the general population.

  • The stress experienced by dental therapists and hygienists is predominantly workplace-centred.

  • A large proportion of the dental therapy profession in South West England are not working to their full scope of practice. Efforts to improve this may be beneficial for their mental wellbeing and would bring wider benefits to team-working, patient care and potentially NHS access.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. General Dental Council. Mental Health and Wellbeing in Dentistry: A Rapid Evidence Assessment. 2021. Available at https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/research/mental-health-and-wellbeing-in-dentistry27973e06-eb0f-4ee2-b92f-7fee3d2baf5b.pdf?sfvrsn=511f2ef9_5 (accessed June 2022).

  2. Collin V, Toon M, O'Selmo E, Reynolds L, Whitehead P. A survey of stress, burnout and well-being in UK dentists. Br Dent J 2019; 226: 40-49.

  3. British Dental Association. The Mental Health and Well-being of UK Dentists: A Qualitative Study. 2017. Available at https://bda.org/about-the-bda/campaigns/Documents/The%20Mental%20Health%20and%20Well-being%20of%20UK%20Dentists.pdf (accessed November 2022).

  4. Myers H L, Myers L B. 'It's difficult being a dentist': stress and health in the general dental practitioner. Br Dent J 2004; 197: 89-93.

  5. Mahendran K, Patel S, Sproat C. Psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staff in a dental teaching hospital. Br Dent J 2020; 229: 127-132.

  6. Dental Protection. Covid-19: Dental Protection survey reveals top 5 worries for dentists. 2020. Available at https://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/articles/covid-19-dental-protection-survey-reveals-top-5-worries-for-dentists (accessed July 2022).

  7. Bretherton R, Chapman H R, Chipchase S. A study to explore specific stressors and coping strategies in primary dental care practice. Br Dent J 2016; 220: 471-478.

  8. Humphris G, Knights J, Beaten L et al. Exploring the Effect of the COVID-19 Padenmic on the Dental Team: Preparedness, Psychological Impacts and Emotional Reactions. Front Oral Health 2021; 2: 669752.

  9. Freeman R, Knights J, Beaton L et al. Prediction of emotional exhaustion over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in primary care dental staff: an intensive longitudinal study. BMJ Open 2021; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054827.

  10. Chapman H, Chipchase S Y, Bretherton R. Understanding emotionally relevant situations in primary dental practice. 2. Reported effects of emotionally charged situations. Br Dent J 2015; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.852.

  11. British Dental Association. Sources of Work-related Stress among Salaried Primary Care Dentists in the UK. 2014. Available at https://bda.org/about-the-bda/campaigns/Documents/Sources%20of%20stress%20among%20salaried%20dentists.pdf (accessed November 2022).

  12. Arora S, Sevdalis N, Nestel D, Woloshynowych M, Darzi A, Kneebone R. The impact of stress on surgical performance: a systematic review of the literature. Surgery 2010; 147: 318-330.

  13. Dyrbye L N, Shanafelt T D, Johnson P O, Johnson L A, Satele D, West C P. A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses. BMC Nurs 2019; 18: 57.

  14. Garcia C L, de Abreu L C, Ramos J L S et al. Influence of Burnout on Patient Safety: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicina (Kaunas) 2019; 55: 553.

  15. Hall L, Johnson J, Watt I, Tsipa A, O'Connor D B. Healthcare Staff Wellbeing, Burnout, and Patient Safety: A Systematic Review. PLoS ONE 2016; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159015.

  16. Denton D A, Newton J T, Bower E J. Occupational burnout and work engagement: a national survey of dentists in the United Kingdom. Br Dent J 2008; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.654.

  17. Hill K B, Burke F J T, Brown J et al. Dental practitioners and ill health retirement: a qualitative investigation into the causes and effects. Br Dent J 2010; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.814.

  18. Kay E J, Lowe J C. A survey of stress levels, self-perceived health and health-related behaviours of UK dental practitioners in 2005. Br Dent J 2008; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.490.

  19. Dental Protection. Half of dentists in the UK have considered leaving dentistry for reasons of personal wellbeing. 2020. Available at https://www.dentalprotection.org/uk/articles/half-of-dentists-in-the-uk-have-considered-leaving-dentistry-for-reasons-of-personal-wellbeing (accessed July 2022).

  20. General Dental Council. Registration report - January 2022. 2022. Available at https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/registration-reports/registration-report_january-2022.pdf?sfvrsn=bd140c06_5 (accessed June 2022).

  21. Gorter R C, Freeman R. Burnout and engagement in relation with job demands and resources among dental staff in Northern Ireland. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 87-95.

  22. Mental Health Wellness in Dentistry. Framework. 2022. Available at https://mhwd.org/framework/ (accessed June 2022).

  23. NHS. The NHS Long Term Plan. 2019. Available at https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-plan/ (accessed May 2022).

  24. Office for National Statistics. Personal well-being user guidance. 2018. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/methodologies/personalwellbeingsurveyuserguide (accessed February 2022).

  25. Houdmont J, Cox T, Griffiths A. Work-related stress case definitions and prevalence rates in national surveys. Occup Med (Lond) 2010; 60: 658-661.

  26. Cooper C L, Watts J, Baglioni Jr A J, Kelly M. Occupational stress among general practice dentists. J Occup Psychol 1988; 61: 163-174.

  27. Office for National Statistics. Quarterly personal well-being estimates - non-seasonally adjusted. 2022. Available at https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/quarterlypersonalwellbeingestimatesnonseasonally adjusted (accessed February 2022).

  28. Health and Safety Executive. Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britain, 2022. 2022. Available at https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/stress.pdf (accessed November 2022).

  29. Godson J H, Williams S A, Csikar J I, Bradley S, Rowbotham J. Dental therapy in the United Kingdom: part 2. A survey of reported working practices. Br Dent J 2009; 207: 417-423.

  30. Chen D, Hayes M, Holden A. A global review of the education and career pathways of dental therapists, dental hygienists and oral health therapists. Br Dent J 2021; 230: 533-538.

  31. Williams S A, Bradley S, Godson J H, Csikar J I, Rowbotham J. Dental therapy in the United Kingdom: part 3. Financial aspects of current working practices. Br Dent J 2009; 207: 477-483.

  32. Turner S, Ross M K, Ibbetson R J. Job satisfaction among dually qualified dental hygienist-therapists in UK primary care: a structural model. Br Dent J 2011; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.50.

  33. Gallagher J E, Lim Z, Harper P R. Workforce skill mix: modelling the potential for dental therapists in state-funded primary dental care. Int Dent J 2013; 63: 57-64.

  34. Turner S, Ross M. Direct access: how is it working? Br Dent J 2017; 222: 191-197.

  35. General Dental Council. Direct Access. 2019. Available at https://www.gdc-uk.org/standards-guidance/standards-and-guidance/direct-access (accessed June 2022).

  36. Sun N, Burnside G, Harris R. Patient satisfaction with care by dental therapists. Br Dent J 2010; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.209.

  37. Gallagher J E, Colonio-Salazar F B, White S. Supporting dentists' health and wellbeing - workforce assets under stress: a qualitative study in England. Br Dent J 2021; DOI: 10.1038/s41415-021-3130-9.

  38. Westgarth D. The dental workforce: An assessment of the recruitment market. BDJ In Pract 2022; 35: 14-18.

  39. Dentistry. Dentistry Census - dentistry risks losing one third of UK's dental nurses in next two years. 2022. Available at https://dentistry.co.uk/2022/04/18/dentistry-census-dentistry-risks-losing-one-third-of-uks-dental-nurses-in-the-next-two-years/ (accessed May 2022).

  40. Gibbons D, Corrigan M, Newton J. The working practices and job satisfaction of dental therapists: findings of a national survey. Br Dent J 2000; 189: 435-438.

  41. Patel B M, Boyd L D, Vineyard J, LaSpina L. Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Intention to Leave among Dental Hygienists in Clinical Practice. J Dent Hyg 2021; 95: 28-35.

  42. Gurenlian J R, Morrissey R, Estrich C G et al. Employment Patterns of Dental Hygienists in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Dent Hyg 2021; 95: 17-24.

  43. Edwards P J, Roberts I, Clarke M J et al. Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009; DOI: 10.1002/14651858.MR000008.pub4.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the British Dental Association for sharing their survey and the University of Plymouth Medical School for statistical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Education England Southwest Dental Career Development Fellow, Special Care Dentistry, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Castle Circus Health Centre, Torquay, TQ2 5YH, UK

    Georgia Hallett

  2. Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK

    Robert Witton & Ian Mills

Authors
  1. Georgia Hallett
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Witton
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian Mills
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The study was conceptualised by Georgia Hallett, Robert Witton and Ian Mills. The survey was developed by Georgia Hallett and reviewed by Robert Witton and Ian Mills. Data analysis was performed by Georgia Hallett with assistance from the University of Plymouth medical statistics team. The draft manuscript was prepared by Georgia Hallett, with contributions from Robert Witton and Ian Mills.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgia Hallett.

Ethics declarations

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Completion of the Health Research Authority decision tool determined that ethical approval for the survey was not required. This was a cross-sectional survey design with recruitment via professional groups and no personal identifiable data collected.

Details of the study, follow-up support, the right to withdraw at any time and a consent statement were included in the survey and return of the survey was taken as consent to the process. Appropriate consent was obtained from each participant for use of their anonymous data.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hallett, G., Witton, R. & Mills, I. A survey of mental wellbeing and stress among dental therapists and hygienists in South West England. Br Dent J (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5357-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5357-5

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links