Recruitment and retention in dentistry in the UK: a scoping review to explore the challenges across the UK, with a particular interest in rural and coastal areas

Introduction There is currently reduced access to NHS dental services in the UK, particularly in England with rural and coastal areas significantly affected. Recruitment and retention in dentistry has been highlighted as an issue contributing to the problem and requiring urgent action. Objectives The objective of this review is to explore what is known or unknown about recruitment and retention of the dental workforce in the UK, with a particular focus on rural and coastal areas. Methods Searches for peer reviewed literature and reports were undertaken across a range of databases and UK websites. Diverse types of information were included when they met the eligibility criteria. Data was extracted and the findings narratively synthesised. Discussion The findings suggested broad recruitment and retention issues of the dental workforce in the UK. The majority of issues were associated with dentists working in the NHS; followed by dental nurses across both the NHS and private sectors. The worst affected parts of the country for recruitment and retention were in rural and coastal areas. Conclusion It appears from the evidence types found, that there are many dental professionals aware of and discussing recruitment and retention issues, followed by stakeholders. However, there is limited research and data to initiate change.