Better opportunities for women dentists: a review of the contribution of women dentists to the workforce.

In June 2000 the Department of Health commissioned a review to examine the need for improvements to the employment opportunities for women dentists in the National Health Service (NHS) across England. Dame Margaret Seward carried out the review, which was published in September 2001. The review was considered necessary for four main reasons. Firstly, workforce panning, because now more than 50% of new entrants to dental undergraduate courses in the UK are female and by 2020 over 50% of all practising dentists will be female. Secondly, evidence that 50% of women in dentistry work for no more than two days per week for the NHS. Thirdly, most women work either as associates in general dental practice (GDP) or in the Community Dental Service (CDS). Lastly, the perception that women find it difficult to return to dentistry after taking a career break.