Optimistic about the future

The research, carried out by Enventure Research on behalf of the General Dental Council (GDC), found that 37 per cent of dental professionals are optimistic about the future of dentistry, an increase of two per cent from the previous year. Less than a third of dental professionals were pessimistic about the future of dentistry (31 per cent compared to 33 per cent last year).

The annual registrant survey was sent to a representative sample of dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) across the UK in late 2013. The survey also included five focus groups across the UK and 24 in-depth interviews. 

Confidence in regulation

The survey also found that confidence in the GDC as a regulator remains high. More than two thirds (67 per cent) of the dental professionals who took part in the survey are confident that the GDC is regulating dentistry effectively; (26 per cent were not). 

Some dental professionals have higher levels of confidence in the GDC than others, with 81 per cent of dental hygienists confident in the GDC's effectiveness, compared to 57 per cent of dental technicians.