TY - JOUR
T1 - Reaching A Female Majority
T2 - A Silent Transition for Dentistry in the United Kingdom
AU - Gallagher, Jennifer E.
AU - Scambler, Sasha
N1 - Copyright:
This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
PY - 2021/6/1
Y1 - 2021/6/1
N2 - This paper highlights the process of transition to a female majority for dentistry, examines various influences on this trajectory, and considers the implications for the profession, health systems and patients, as well as individual dentists.This celebratory transition has been facilitated by educational systems that provide both males and females with equal opportunities and is supported by legislation, as well as societal change that has spanned decades. In crossing this gender representation threshold, we have outperformed doctors nationally.In order to embrace our highly educated workforce and support them to better serve their patients and the population, urgent debate and action aimed at reshaping current systems of dental care provision are required. In this regard, flexible working arrangements, together with reshaping professional leadership to better represent the workforce, as well as changes in terminology can all play their part; however, we will need careful discussions about how this might happen effectively.A collaborative effort between the dental profession and wider health systems is required to ensure that there are opportunities for everyone to flourish and contribute back to the profession and society. Our medical counterparts have been considering how healthcare should be shaped creatively, particularly in relation to working patterns, economic models and quality patient care: we need to catch up.
AB - This paper highlights the process of transition to a female majority for dentistry, examines various influences on this trajectory, and considers the implications for the profession, health systems and patients, as well as individual dentists.This celebratory transition has been facilitated by educational systems that provide both males and females with equal opportunities and is supported by legislation, as well as societal change that has spanned decades. In crossing this gender representation threshold, we have outperformed doctors nationally.In order to embrace our highly educated workforce and support them to better serve their patients and the population, urgent debate and action aimed at reshaping current systems of dental care provision are required. In this regard, flexible working arrangements, together with reshaping professional leadership to better represent the workforce, as well as changes in terminology can all play their part; however, we will need careful discussions about how this might happen effectively.A collaborative effort between the dental profession and wider health systems is required to ensure that there are opportunities for everyone to flourish and contribute back to the profession and society. Our medical counterparts have been considering how healthcare should be shaped creatively, particularly in relation to working patterns, economic models and quality patient care: we need to catch up.
KW - dentists
KW - flexible working
KW - Gender balance
KW - person centred dentistry
KW - specialists
KW - systems design
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113612787&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/20501684211013165
DO - 10.1177/20501684211013165
M3 - Article
C2 - 34353157
AN - SCOPUS:85113612787
SN - 2050-1684
VL - 10
SP - 41
EP - 46
JO - Primary Dental Journal
JF - Primary Dental Journal
IS - 2
ER -
