Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • General
  • Published:

From post-war veteran to post-millennium provider: a brief history of general dental practice from 1950-2021 in eight job advertisements

British Dental Journal volume 233, pages 149–153 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

The British Dental Journal has been the go-to place for jobseekers in general dental practice for many years. Using a selected sample of these advertisements from each decade from 1950 to the present, a brief history of general dental practice is described, from the post-war development of the NHS to the dental performer status 70 years later. The paper highlights some of the changes in practice over time and shows the continuing commitment of dental practitioners to the business of dentistry.

Key points

  • Traditionally, the majority of oral care in the UK has been provided utilising the small business model of general dental practice.

  • This history shows the remarkable willingness of practice owners to invest in the success of these enterprises.

  • Without the confidence of practice owners to invest in both staff development and up-to-date equipment, the small business model of general dental practice may fail.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Holden A C L. Consumer-driven and commercialised practice in dentistry: an ethical and professional problem? Med Health Care Philos 2018; 21: 583-589.

  2. Hellyer P. The development of dental practice in a new English seaside resort 1885-1916. Part 2: the next generation. Br Dent J 2019; 227: 519-523.

  3. Hellyer P. The growth of general dental practice in a developing Sussex seaside resort 1885-1916. Part 1: the early settlers. Br Dent J 2019; 227: 419-424.

  4. Todd P, McKeen J, Gallupe R. The Evolution of IS Job Skills: A Content Analysis of IS Job Advertisements From 1970 to 1990. MIS Q 1995; 19: 1-27.

  5. Dunbar K, Laing K, Wynder M. A Content Analysis of Accounting Job Advertisements: Skill Requirements for Graduates. E-J Bus Educ Scholarsh Teach 2016; 10: 58-72.

  6. Brocklehurst P, Tickle M, Birch S et al. Impact of changing provider remuneration on NHS general dental practitioner services in Northern Ireland: a mixed-methods study. Health Serv Deliv Res 2020; DOI: 10.3310/hsdr08060.

  7. Davies B J B, Macfarlane F. Clinical decision making by dentists working in the NHS General Dental Services since April 2006. Br Dent J 2010; DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.1080.

  8. National Association of Primary Care. NHS dentistry: past present and future. 2018. Available at https://napc.co.uk/nhs-dentistrypast-present-and-future/ (accessed June 2021).

  9. Department of Transport. Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2011. 2011. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/761929/Historyoftransport.pdf (accessed June 2021).

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the help and support of Helen Nield, BDA Librarian, for scanning in many pages of advertisements and David Radford for manuscript review and comment.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Retired General Dental Practitioner, 56 Manor Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1SN, UK

    Paul Hellyer

Authors
  1. Paul Hellyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Hellyer.

Ethics declarations

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hellyer, P. From post-war veteran to post-millennium provider: a brief history of general dental practice from 1950-2021 in eight job advertisements. Br Dent J 233, 149–153 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4463-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4463-8

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links