With the new year approaching, Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, has set out his hopes for significant change to address the challenges in dentistry.
His 2025 wish list includes a range of reforms that he says will help to reduce burdens on the profession and support them in delivering high quality patient care.
Three key items on the wish list include:
- NHS contract reform. In 2025 the Government will set out a 10-year NHS strategy and Dental Protection has urged that a timetable for NHS contract reform should be a key plank of this strategy. Rethinking the contract could lead to the removal of rigid targets and the introduction of measures that incentivise preventative care as well as ensuring appropriate remuneration for dental teams.
- GDC reform. The GDC have introduced a range of improvements in 2024 many of which follow on from recommendations made by Dental Protection and research it has published into members’ experience of being investigated and the impact on mental wellbeing. Dental Protection said it hopes 2025 will be a year when professionals will start to see the benefits of these changes and said it will continue to push the regulator to go further in what they can do to reduce the impact on members. It will also continue to lobby the Government to ensure GDC reform is not at the back of the queue as it develops its agenda for regulatory reform.
- Integrating AI into everyday practice. The transformative potential of AI in dentistry cannot be overstated and the profession needs to be supported in embracing AI, from diagnostics, record keeping and predictive analytics to patient management systems.
Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “At the end of each year I like to reflect on the progress that has been made. I dearly hope that come the end of 2025 we will have finally seen Government commitment to dental contract reform, and that we can all start to work on the exciting changes that could flow from this.
“I would also like to be able to report on improvements in members’ experience of being under investigation by the GDC. Dental Protection will continue to provide the best possible support to members under investigation whilst also pushing for wider changes that benefit the whole profession. The GDC have made a range of improvements this year and it is important to acknowledge and welcome these, whilst continuing to push for more progress.
“Technology – and particularly AI – will also hopefully be able to play an important role in reducing administrative burdens, streamlining clinical workflows and making work more efficient.
“By tackling these key priorities, dentists and dental care professionals should see significant improvements that benefit their wellbeing, their practice and their patients. Finally and importantly, I hope that Dental Protection members will have an opportunity to take a well-earned break and to enjoy festivities at the end of this year.”
