UK report seeks to reverse decline in dental research

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 3. November 2026

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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England: The UK’s clinical research workforce in dentistry has declined substantially over the past two decades, raising concerns about the country’s capacity to conduct oral health research and train future dental professionals. A new report prepared by the Dental Schools Council has outlined a five-year strategy to rebuild research capacity, improve career opportunities and address the under-representation of primary care dentists and dental care professionals in research.

The report, commissioned by the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research, found that the number of clinical academic posts in dentistry at lecturer level and above fell from 435 full-time equivalents in 2005 to 360 in 2025. The authors warned that the ageing workforce could exacerbate this trend. In 2025, more than one in four clinical academics in dentistry were aged over 55 years and about one in eight were under 36 years.

The report also highlighted the under-representation of the broader dental workforce in research. Dentists working in primary care and dental care professionals, including dental hygienists, therapists and nurses, remain particularly under-represented relative to their numbers in the profession, although comprehensive data on their research participation is lacking.

Prof. Chris Day, CBE, DL, vice-chancellor and president of Newcastle University, warned in the report that, without intervention, declining research capacity could undermine dental education and patient care. He also cautioned that the UK risked losing ground in the global research economy and missing out on economic growth associated with emerging dental technologies, materials and treatment approaches.

Road map for rebuilding research capacity in dentistry

The report identifies several factors hindering recruitment and retention, including increasing financial and service pressures on universities and healthcare organisations, insecure early-career employment and limited opportunities to gain research experience during professional training. Workforce trends at UK dental schools have also contributed to the decline in research capacity. According to data analysed for the report, the proportion of clinical academic positions in dentistry dedicated solely to teaching increased from 73% in 2016 to 82% in 2025, while combined teaching and research positions declined. In January, the Dental Schools Council highlighted this shift towards teaching-focused academic roles, which leaves fewer staff actively engaged in research.

According to the report, without intervention, declining dental research capacity in the UK could undermine dental education and patient care. (Image: Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

To address these challenges, the report proposes restoring at least 75 full-time equivalent research-active academic posts over the next five years. Its recommendations focus on establishing more flexible clinical academic career pathways, strengthening mentorship and leadership, and improving employment conditions and pay parity. Particular emphasis is placed on expanding research opportunities for primary care dentists and dental care professionals.

In a Newcastle University press release, Prof. Chris Vernazza, chair of the group that prepared the report and head of the School of Dental Sciences, stressed the importance of rebuilding research capacity to respond to changing oral health needs. “Strengthening the oral health research workforce is essential if we are to generate the evidence, innovation and leadership needed to tackle inequalities, improve access to dental care and deliver better outcomes for future generations,” he said.

The report calls for coordinated action by universities, healthcare organisations, research funders, professional bodies and governments across the UK’s four nations. The action plan provides for a dedicated taskforce to oversee implementation and for the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research to review progress after five years.

The report, titled Clinical Researchers in the UK: Building Capacity to Improve Population Health and Promote Economic Growth, is available on the UK Research and Innovation website.

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