THE FUTURE-ROLE OF DENTAL THERAPISTS IN THE UK - A SURVEY OF DISTRICT DENTAL OFFICERS AND GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

A postal questionnaire concerning the opinion of the dental profession as to the future role of dental therapists in the UK was sent to a random sample of 30 District Dental Officers and 70 General Dental Practitioners. In total 76 questionnaires were returned, 26 from DDOs, 50 from GDPs, giving corrected response rates of 86.7% and 57.1% respectively. Returns revealed that 69.2% of District Dental Officers predicted a future role for dental therapists in the Community Dental Service. A total of 47.5% of General Dental Practitioners stated they would like to see therapists working in general dental practice, with 40% of this group willing to employ a therapist providing the current legislation was changed. The most popular predicted role in both services appears to be an equal division between the provision of clinical care and dental health education. Recently qualified General Dental Practitioners were more in favour of the employment of therapists than older members of the profession, which suggest that with time, the demand for this auxiliary in general dental practice could increase.