OPINION SPEAK UP AND JOIN IN HARMAN CHAHAL, CHAIR OF THE BRITISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION’S


YOUNG DENTIST COMMITTEE, SAYS YOUNG DENTISTS IN SCOTLAND SHOULD PLAY THEIR PART IN DENTAL POLITICS


Committee (YDC) that they are afraid of making mistakes and are terrifi ed of the General Dental Council. And, in an environment that is more litigious and fi lled with high expectations, they also worry about being sued by their patients. In fact some young dentists are so concerned about making an error that they are referring on cases that they shouldn’t need to. Some graduates worry about


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having all the skills necessary to be a capable and confi dent dentist, and foundation training can be an opportunity to improve on these. I was fortunate enough to have a good relationship with my foundation trainer in Grangemouth, who also acted as a mentor. T is was followed by a two-year stint as an associate in Edinburgh. Others will be saddled with


having to pay back the hefty costs they incurred during training, though the situation is better for those living in Scotland. Dentistry still attracts an annual bursary of £4,000 and they are not burdened with having to pay fi ve years of tuition fees, unlike their counterparts in England, though, of course, everyone has to meet the rising costs of indemnity and registration fees. In these constrained times,


governments will make savings wherever they can but the BDA


SCO TTISH DENT AL


s it any fun being a young dentist today? T ere’s no doubt that it is tough, especially in the fi rst few years after qualifying. Young dentists have told the BDA’s Young Dentist


being an associate to partner and ultimately a practice owner. T e outlook is better in Scotland where corporates haven’t got quite the same foothold... yet. T e YDC will be keeping a watching brief. Although the fee per item


Harman Chahal


opposes any attacks on the pay of the most vulnerable dentists in the profession. In 2014, the BDA mounted a highly successful campaign to stop plans by the Westminster government from cutting dental foundation training pay by £2,000. Getting suffi cient hours is


challenging in parts of the UK and disproportionately aff ects newly qualifi ed dentists. T e statistics on under-employment are not as bleak as they once were: it is now 5 per cent, down from 15 per cent two years ago. While this is welcome news, there is a sting in the tail. Associate pay is down and it’s hard not to conclude that the improvement in employment prospects is at expense of lowering the market rate? T e infl uence of the corporates


and their seemingly unlimited ability to buy up dental practices is also set to have an impact on the once certain career path from


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system in Scotland means that the NHS off er for patients is clearer, the question still arises where dentists should invest in their training if they are thinking of specialising. We need to be highly skilled to deal with the complex needs of our ageing population but postgraduate training is time-consuming and expensive. For many, the question is can they aff ord it and will it be worthwhile? Whatever the uncertainties


facing young dentists, I see little point in grumbling from the sidelines, and I would urge them to get involved in dental politics. In the short months that I have been chair of the YDC, I have seen fi rst-hand that the committee is a great resource for engaging young dentists both socially and professionally. It represents dentists up to 10 years after they have graduated and off ers a safe environment for them to speak with people who are going through the same experiences. Life is challenging for young


dentists as outlined, but there is no need to feel alone. T is does, however, rely on you taking the fi rst step: join your local dental committee or go along to your local BDA branch or section. It couldn’t be easier – check out the BDA on Facebook and Twitter.


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