Changes in the New Zealand dentist workforce over a nine-year period

To identify and describe trends in the NZ dentist workforce over a nine-year period.

Data from the 1997, 2001 and 2005 DCNZ workforce questionnaires were collated and analysed using both cross-sectional and longitudinal methods.

2088 dentists completed the workforce questionnaire in at least one of these years, and 1026 (49.1%) did so in all three of them. Substantial changes occurred in the NZ dentist workforce over the observation period. The proportion of women and overseas-trained dentists in the workforce continued to increase, along with the mean age of dentists. There was a large decrease in the number of hours worked per week by specialist dentists (who still worked more hours than dentists), but there was no clear trend for general dentists. Increasing numbers of dentists appear to be opting for part-time work; the main reasons for doing so included personal choice, parental responsibilities, and semi-retirement. There was a trend for fewer dentists to be working in small towns, mainly through dentists leaving (or retiring) and not being replaced, rather than dentists moving from towns to the cities. Rural dentists and female practitioners were less likely to achieve the continuing professional development (CPD) target than their colleagues. In 1997, fewer overseas-qualified dentists (than NZ graduates) were self-employed and had undertaken 20 hours CPD, and a larger proportion worked in small towns. However, these differences were not evident in the later years.

The New Zealand dental workforce continues to change, particularly with respect to gender mix, age, work circumstances and CPD activities.