No choice but to work
Mental wellbeing
04 July 2025
Dental hygienists and dental therapists feel they have no choice but to work when their mental health is suffering!
Over eight in ten dental therapists (82%) in the UK who took part in a survey said they have gone to work or continued to work despite their mental health suffering, and 50% said they feel guilty if they take time off due to mental wellbeing issues.
The Dental Protection survey of more than 1,600 dental professionals in the UK, including almost 330 hygienists and therapists, showed similar results for dental hygienists, with 74% working or continuing to work and 59% feeling guilty about taking time off.
Half of the dental hygienists (50%) and dental therapists (49%) who responded said they feel they should keep working even when their mental health is suffering, with a similar number – 48% hygienists and 51% therapists – saying there was nobody else to cover for them if they did not attend.
Two thirds (66%) of dental therapists and three in five dental hygienists (60%) cited financial reasons for continuing to work.
Almost half of dental hygienists (49%) and dental therapists (46%) who took part said working while their mental health is suffering had led to a loss of concentration, and over a third of hygienists (36%) and therapists (38%) said it had led to a lack of empathy with patients.
Two in five dental hygienists (41%) and a quarter (25%) of therapists also suspected that working while their mental health is suffering may have contributed to a lower standard of care.
Yvonne Shaw, Deputy Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “It does not surprise me that dental professionals put their patients’ interests above their own.
“It is however distressing that such a large proportion of colleagues say they are continuing to work despite not feeling mentally well enough to do so. The reasons cited highlight the pressures of delivering care and unrelenting demands of managing patient backlogs and meeting targets, alongside financial pressures and lack of cover.
“The current pressures are unsustainable and dental professionals must feel able to take time off to recuperate or seek support. We see the impact of burn-out and the sad reality of colleagues having to take extended time off work, or even leaving dentistry altogether. Alongside this, working when our mental health is suffering can adversely impact the delivery of patient care which those taking part in our survey have shared.
“At Dental Protection, we continue to campaign for the delivery of key reforms that we know could benefit dental professionals’ wellbeing. These include expansion and better use of the dental workforce, NHS contract reform and addressing access to care, alongside the introduction of measures that support dental teams to deliver optimised patient care and ensure appropriate remuneration.
“The Government has just set out a 10-year NHS strategy soon and a key plank must be providing a clear timetable for NHS contract reform. A realistic new model for the provision of NHS dental care is urgently required to improve the working conditions for dental professionals, thereby protecting patients and safeguarding the future of NHS dentistry.
“I would also like to remind Dental Protection members, that we offer a 24/7 counselling service as a benefit of membership, for colleagues experiencing stress that they feel could impact their practice. The service is entirely confidential and independent of Dental Protection.”
Dental hygienists and dental therapists who participated in the Dental Protection survey commented anonymously:
“It’s hard enough to be off work with a physical illness let alone an unseen mental one.”
“A lot of my patients refuse to see a different hygienist and it can take three months to get another appointment. Due to this, reception hate cancelling my patients and I feel pressured to go in. The financial loss is huge too. I am employed but only get statutory sick pay.”
“For therapists and hygienists there is no support/ legal backup as we are self-employed. The result is we have to work in different places as there is no employment security. That’s our pressure mentally.”
“As dental therapists on the NHS, we are not entitled to ANY of the benefits that dentists are, pension, maternity pay etc. even though we submit claims under our own name. This is disgusting and adds even more financial pressure to working especially as a self employed young female wanting to have a family.”
“My reasons for feeling too unwell to work are related to anxiety brought about by stress, tiredness, exhaustion and menopause. I could tell my bosses and ask for time off but I feel like it would then define me and they’d see me differently. I’ve been so stressed/anxious my hands have trembled, my vision has blurred and I’ve been unable to think clearly. I just sit my patient up for a rinse, breathe, have a drink and carry on.”
“The dental therapists’ workload is constant. All referred patients are treatments. Referrals are also subjective. Years of working this way takes its mental and physical toll.”
“Practice owners look after the financial side not wellbeing of staff side. Financially as a dental hygienist who is a business owner, I have bills to pay: holidays and sick days are few.”
“There are many pressures on Dental Hygienists. Things need to change. Pressure needs to be placed on practices to provide chairside support. Many corporates encourage wellbeing but processes not being followed.”
Dental Protection survey was completed by 1,629 dental members in the UK, including 247 dental hygienists and 80 dental therapists. The survey was in the field during January and February 2025.
Image courtesy of piqsels
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