The ethnicity of dental practitioners in the United Kingdom

Objective: To describe the proportion of dental practitioners, currently pr actising in the UK, who are from different ethnic groups. Method: Analysis of data from the British Dental Association Omnibus Survey 2000. The sample comprised 970 qualified dentists in all fields of practice. Findings: Dent al practitioners from minority ethnic groups constitute approximately 14% o f the population of dentists. There has been an increase in the proportion of dentists from minority ethnic groups amongst cohorts of dentists qualify ing since 1987. There is some evidence that dentists from minority ethnic g roups are more likely to treat patients under NHS payment. Conclusions: The profession of dentistry in the United Kingdom appears to have little probl em attracting members of some minority ethnic groups in particular those of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. Individuals of Black Caribbean a nd Black African origin are under-represented.