Workforce and training

Special care dentistry is one of the General Dental Council's newest specialties and special care services provide dental treatment for people with various impairments and disabilities. It is well recognized that patients are living longer and presenting with increasinglycomplex medical conditions, so it is crucial that the dental workforce is able to adapt to and develop to meet the needs of the increasinglychallenging population. This article looks at the special care workforce in the UK, highlights gaps in provision and suggests how these maybe addressed. CPD/Clinical Relevance: As dental patients may have increasingly complex requirements, special care dentistry services must bedeveloped to meet these needs.