Tackling regional inequalities in dental education
Calls for coordinated action to address regional inequalities in access to dental careers.
A report on widening participation in dental education in the UK, calling for coordinated action to address regional inequalities in access to dental careers, has been published by the Dental Schools Council.
The report identifies persistent ‘cold spots’ with far fewer applicants and outlines a series of targeted recommendations to expand opportunities for students from under-represented and under-served areas.
The council said that with oral health inequalities on the rise, particularly in areas with limited access to care, it is essential to implement measures to recruit more students from regions most in need of oral healthcare professionals.
Drawing on internal research and data from UCAS on applicant trends, the council has published schools’ progress in improving representation in student cohorts. The report outlines key recommendations to address geographical inequalities:
- Target outreach and recruitment efforts towards regions with low application rates and outside existing university target spots
- Scope mutual recognition of widening participation schemes among universities
- Use national data and tracking systems to map inequalities in real-time.
Professor Ewen McColl, the council’s chair, said: “To meet the UK’s growing oral health needs and reduce persistent inequalities in oral healthcare across the country, we must draw on the widest possible pool of talent.
“Widening access to future oral healthcare teams from all communities is not only about fairness, though that is important – it is essential for building a dental workforce that is equipped to serve all communities across the country through research and service.
“Nationally, [the council] will explore reaching beyond our traditional catchment areas for our outreach and recruitment efforts towards regions with low application rates. This must be a collaborative effort to ensure that all communities are able to send people to train at dental school.
“Students from under-represented backgrounds bring lived experience, insight and commitment that enrich both the learning environment and the profession. Supporting these students to access and thrive dental education is critical to building a workforce that reflects and understands the population it serves.
“Dental schools cannot act alone. Dentistry remains one of the most oversubscribed courses in UK higher education, with many highly capable applicants unable to secure a place.
“If we are to close workforce gaps and ensure equitable access to care, we urgently need government investment to increase the number of funded places in dental schools. Without this, we risk exacerbating health inequalities and turning away the very future dentists who could make all the difference.”
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