Developing and Delivering Oral Healthcare

The impact of COVID-19 on the workforce

As dental clinics reopened with increased personal protective equipment requirements and new standard operating procedures, oral health professionals suffered burnouts and stress due to fear of the virus, financial burden and increasing patient needs. The cumulation of these factors has resulted in compounding the shortage of oral health professionals globally and it is evident that in the recovery from the pandemic, we must rebuild a resilient dental workforce.

Rebuilding a resilient dental workforce

The dental team’s role in addressing not only the burden of oral disease, but also the risk factors that are common with other noncommunicable diseases has been spotlighted during this crisis. Developing and Delivering Oral Healthcare was established to provide guidance on how the dental team, and other health professionals, can better provide preventive care across healthcare settings. A whole team approach is necessary to provide dental prevention in primary, secondary and tertiary settings.

The development of a new toolkit focusing on how oral health can be improved within communities was kickstarted in 2022. The toolkit will highlight areas such as overall wellness through improved oral health status, increased collaboration among providers, and cohesive teamwork. Additionally, it will address other key issues including sustainability, workforce resilience and well-being, and team-based care and gender equity.