Leadership in dentistry.

The NHS Long Term Plan highlights the importance of visible clinical leadership in enabling the delivery of high-quality care, both within organisations and in the wider healthcare system. It is important that dental professionals embrace leadership roles and provide a voice for the profession in the wider healthcare system. There is a move towards more integrated care through Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Systems; if the profession does not show leadership during the development of these then dentistry will be excluded. Leadership skills are important to all members of the dental team and this is only going to increase as dentistry moves further towards a multidisciplinary team model of care, utilising skill mix. This paper will outline what leadership is, the evidence for effective leadership improving healthcare, and how dental professionals can develop their leadership skills and become leaders for change. It is hoped that more dental professionals will step up to become effective leaders, whether this be of their dental team, in their local community and health system, or at a national level.