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Special care dentistry: overcoming future challenges

British Dental Journal volume 239, pages 829–835 (2025)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction Before 2008, special care dentistry did not officially exist until it was formalised as one of the 13 dental specialities, but there were services that provided care for patients with additional needs across various settings, such as the Community Dental Services and other specialities. This led to variability and fragmentation in service provision. The patient groups that fall into the remit of the speciality are diverse and complex and often require treatment in adapted environments with additional equipment or treatment modalities.

The NHS has laid out Commissioning Standards in the management of these patients and recommends patients are seen in environments and by clinicians suited to their needs and complexities, differentiated as levels of care. This means that all the dental team should have the skills and expertise to manage these patients according to their scope of practice.

Discussion There are many different motivators that lead a clinician to working within special care dentistry as it is a specialty that spans across practice, hospital and community dentistry, which can be very rewarding. Some of the major challenges we face within the specialty are an increasing demand and need from patients, as well as workforce planning, as there is a shortage of specialists and clinicians.

Conclusion This article outlines the current situation within special care dentistry within the UK and looks to the future of the speciality and the patients we treat.

Key points

  • Special care dentistry is the newest dental specialty managing the holistic dental needs of adults and adolescents with impairment or disability.

  • The need for the speciality is increasing, with increasing populations of patients with additional needs, people living for longer, retaining their teeth for longer and a potential workforce crisis approaching.

  • There are various career opportunities available in the speciality working across practice, community and hospital settings, as well as some exciting developments with technology and treatment modalities.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultant in Special Care Dentistry, King´s College Hospital, United Kingdom

    Natalie Bradley

  2. Speciality Trainee Registrar in Special Care Dentistry, Birmingham Community Healthcare Trust, United Kingdom

    Kiren Kauser

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  1. Natalie Bradley
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  2. Kiren Kauser
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NB: article conceptualisation, content, proofreading, references. KK: article content.

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Correspondence to Natalie Bradley.

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Bradley, N., Kauser, K. Special care dentistry: overcoming future challenges. Br Dent J 239, 829–835 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-9014-7

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