The feminisation of the orthodontic workforce

Area of Science:

• Dental Public Health
• Orthodontics
• Workforce Analysis

Background:

• The gender composition of the UK orthodontic workforce is evolving.
• Understanding the demographics and activity of female orthodontists is crucial for workforce planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the current status and professional activity of women within the UK orthodontic workforce.
• To identify key demographic and productivity differences between male and female orthodontic providers.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was distributed to all orthodontic providers across the United Kingdom.
• Data collected included provider sex, age, sessions worked, productivity (cases per session), professional status, and retirement intentions.

Main Results:

• The study achieved a 72.7% response rate, revealing that 31.4% of participants were female.
• Female providers were, on average, 4 years younger than males and comprised 66% of specialist trainees.
• Women worked fewer sessions (7.2 vs. 8.2) and completed slightly fewer cases per session (24.2 vs. 25.6) than men, with lower retirement intentions.

Conclusions:

• The orthodontic profession in the UK is experiencing significant feminization.
• Workforce planners must consider the implications of a growing female workforce, including potential impacts on overall productivity and the need for adjusted service capacity.