THE NEXT generation of dentists is six times as likely to work in private practice as solely for the NHS, research led by Dundee University has found.

The study, involving 141 final-year dental students at Dundee and Manchester universities, raises some potentially-serious issues of workforce planning for health chiefs.

While most students envisaged splitting their time between private and NHS work, 18% said they wanted to work only in the private sector.

By contrast, just 3% envisaged spending their careers entirely in the NHS.

Dr Fiona Stewart, from Dundee University dental school, was lead author of the new study, which is published in the British Dental Journal today.

She explained a previous study, carried out among younger students two years ago, found only 7.5% were intending to work privately.

The increase to 18% now may reflect changes in attitude as students progress through their training.

“The results of this study suggest that future generations of dentists will have a pattern of professional life that may have the effect of reducing their clinical commitment, both in terms of working time and participation in patient care within the NHS,” Dr Stewart said.

“Our findings indicate that the plans senior dental students have for their future careers may well reduce the ‘supply side’ of the workforce equation.

“This is particularly true with respect to their intentions regarding NHS work, childcare arrangements and retirement plans.

“If these career intentions are followed through it could impact significantly on the future clinical commitment available to the NHS, and in our view these intentions should be taken into account for future dental workforce planning.”

The researchers, including experts from Abertay University, also found 60% of dental students plan to retire, or at least reduce their workloads, by the time they are 60.