Independent Dentists in the UK have less access to Occupational Health

ObjectivesRespiratory illnesses like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and the current SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic are transmitted by respiratory droplets. Certain dental procedures generate aerosols, one of the highest sources of transmission of droplet infections. During the current pandemic, dentists in the UK were initially restricted in their work and now have guidance from NHS England and the Chief Dental Officer for the full resumption of safe and effective routine dental care to patients. Lack of work, impact on income and working in the continual pandemic situation are likely to cause significant mental stress in dentists. Occupational health (OH) can have a vital role to help such dentists remain in work by advising strategies to cope with stress and offering timely evidence-based interventions and adjustments. The aim was to assess if the dentists in the UK had access to OH and whether access to the OH services helped. MethodsA survey link was sent to 200 dentists in the UK after the peak of the current pandemic. Results124 dentists responded to the survey. The response rate was 62%. 59% of the dentists in the survey did not have access to OH services in their workplace. Only 15% of dentists working in the independent sector had access to OH services compared to 78% working in the NHS or having NHS contracts. None of the dentists in the survey accessed OH services. ConclusionsAccess to OH services for the dentists needs improvement, particularly in the Independent sector in the UK. Article SummaryStrengths and limitations of the study: O_LISample representative of the population studied. C_LIO_LINo observer subjectivity C_LIO_LIPrecise results C_LIO_LIInflexible design, no control group and lack of random sampling C_LI