Free movement of dentists and life-long learning requirements within the countries of the European Economic Area: a scoping review of existing insights and future considerations

The free movement of dentists within the European Economic Area (EEA) is facilitated by the mutual recognition of professional qualifications under European Union legislation. However, continuing professional development (CPD) regulations vary considerably across Member States. This scoping review maps the literature on the challenges and implications of EEA-qualified dentists within the countries of the EEA in relation to the variations in life-long learning and CPD in those countries. Following JBI methodological guidance and the PRISMA-ScR framework, a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted. English and Dutch sources published between 2000 and 2025 that explored postgraduate dental education, specifically CPD of EEA-qualified dentists in the EEA and the UK, were considered eligible. Following independent screening and data extraction, the findings were mapped and analysed using basic qualitative content analysis. Twenty-seven sources, published between 2002 and 2024, were included, and eight overarching themes were identified. Migration is driven by complex push factors (e.g. poor working conditions) and pull factors (e.g. higher remuneration). While mobility addresses workforce shortages in destination countries, it risks exacerbating health inequalities in source countries. Furthermore, substantial variations in regulatory structures, undergraduate curricula, and CPD requirements across Europe pose major challenges to the professional integration of migrant dentists and the maintenance of uniform patient safety standards. The literature addressing the implications of variations in CPD requirements across Europe for migrant dentists appears to be limited. The benefits of a mobile dental workforce may be enhanced through greater harmonisation of educational standards and CPD requirements across Europe. Robust, data-driven workforce planning, alongside targeted support programmes, may help facilitate the effective integration of migrant dentists and contribute to safeguarding public health.