Same difference: a qualitative exploration of stressors experienced by dental team members across the UK

Introduction Poor mental health and wellbeing in dental team members is increasingly recognised. The practise of dentistry is linked to high levels of self-reported stress, burnout and psychological distress. Different dental systems operate across the four United Kingdom (UK) countries and there is currently a lack of exploration of the impacts these different systems have on the stressors and challenges dental teams experience.Aim The aim of this paper is to explore and provide a UK country comparison of dental team members' experiences and stressors reported through the MINDSET U.K. survey 2023.Method Qualitative data were collected in an online questionnaire which provided opportunity for respondents to provide a free-text response. Following an inductive approach, thematic analysis was used to synthesise the findings.Results In total, 1,507 responses were received of which 287 included a valid free-text response. The sample included 203 dentists, 69 dental care professionals, 13 practice managers/receptionists and two respondents who did not select a professional group. Eight main themes were identified across each of the UK countries: workforce; mental health and wellbeing; regulation and litigation; NHS dentistry; COVID-19; financial pressures; leadership and management; and patients. There was more agreement among respondents from different UK countries than divergence.Conclusions Despite the different dental systems and environmental conditions, there was a high degree of thematic convergence between countries. Dental teams, irrespective of the country or system they operate within, reported significant stressors regarding their practice of dentistry. A sense of fatalism, with anticipation of worsening conditions, was shared across the UK.