‘It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you go': Peninsula dental students' career decisions and intentions

Ian Mills; Laura Clarry; Amy Rathbone; Marie Bryce; Sally Hanks

doi:10.1038/s41415-025-8810-4

‘It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you go': Peninsula dental students' career decisions and intentions

Ian Mills
, Laura Clarry
, Amy Rathbone
, Marie Bryce
, Sally Hanks

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction:

The south west of England is widely recognised as a ‘dental desert' with limited access to NHS (National Health Service) dentistry. One of the major contributing factors to NHS capacity is recruitment and retention of dentists in the region, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Peninsula Dental School was established in 2006 to help address some of the workforce issues at that time, yet despite the success of the Dental School, many dental students still do not stay in the region following graduation.

Aims: This study aimed to understand factors that influence career intentions and decisions of present and past dental students of Peninsula Dental School.

Methods: The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews that were thematically analysed to establish key data themes.

Results: Five themes were identified detailing influencing factors: connections, location, undergraduate experience, professional opportunities, and financial considerations.

Conclusion: This study identified key factors impacting the career decisions of dentists qualifying from Peninsula Dental School which can be used to inform future decisions relating to the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan for dentistry.

Original language	English
Journal	British Dental Journal
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-025-8810-4
Publication status	Published - 3 Oct 2025

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10.1038/s41415-025-8810-4

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title = "{\textquoteleft}It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you go': Peninsula dental students' career decisions and intentions",

abstract = "Introduction: The south west of England is widely recognised as a {\textquoteleft}dental desert' with limited access to NHS (National Health Service) dentistry. One of the major contributing factors to NHS capacity is recruitment and retention of dentists in the region, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Peninsula Dental School was established in 2006 to help address some of the workforce issues at that time, yet despite the success of the Dental School, many dental students still do not stay in the region following graduation. Aims: This study aimed to understand factors that influence career intentions and decisions of present and past dental students of Peninsula Dental School.Methods: The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews that were thematically analysed to establish key data themes. Results: Five themes were identified detailing influencing factors: connections, location, undergraduate experience, professional opportunities, and financial considerations. Conclusion: This study identified key factors impacting the career decisions of dentists qualifying from Peninsula Dental School which can be used to inform future decisions relating to the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan for dentistry.",

author = "Ian Mills and Laura Clarry and Amy Rathbone and Marie Bryce and Sally Hanks",

note = "Data availability: The qualitative data reported within this article are available from the corresponding author (IM), upon reasonable request. The data have been anonymised with any identifying elements redacted.",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1038/s41415-025-8810-4",

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T1 - ‘It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you go': Peninsula dental students' career decisions and intentions

AU - Mills, Ian

AU - Clarry, Laura

AU - Rathbone, Amy

AU - Bryce, Marie

AU - Hanks, Sally

N1 - Data availability: The qualitative data reported within this article are available from the corresponding author (IM), upon reasonable request. The data have been anonymised with any identifying elements redacted.

PY - 2025/10/3

Y1 - 2025/10/3

N2 - Introduction: The south west of England is widely recognised as a ‘dental desert' with limited access to NHS (National Health Service) dentistry. One of the major contributing factors to NHS capacity is recruitment and retention of dentists in the region, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Peninsula Dental School was established in 2006 to help address some of the workforce issues at that time, yet despite the success of the Dental School, many dental students still do not stay in the region following graduation. Aims: This study aimed to understand factors that influence career intentions and decisions of present and past dental students of Peninsula Dental School.Methods: The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews that were thematically analysed to establish key data themes. Results: Five themes were identified detailing influencing factors: connections, location, undergraduate experience, professional opportunities, and financial considerations. Conclusion: This study identified key factors impacting the career decisions of dentists qualifying from Peninsula Dental School which can be used to inform future decisions relating to the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan for dentistry.

AB - Introduction: The south west of England is widely recognised as a ‘dental desert' with limited access to NHS (National Health Service) dentistry. One of the major contributing factors to NHS capacity is recruitment and retention of dentists in the region, particularly in rural and coastal areas. Peninsula Dental School was established in 2006 to help address some of the workforce issues at that time, yet despite the success of the Dental School, many dental students still do not stay in the region following graduation. Aims: This study aimed to understand factors that influence career intentions and decisions of present and past dental students of Peninsula Dental School.Methods: The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews that were thematically analysed to establish key data themes. Results: Five themes were identified detailing influencing factors: connections, location, undergraduate experience, professional opportunities, and financial considerations. Conclusion: This study identified key factors impacting the career decisions of dentists qualifying from Peninsula Dental School which can be used to inform future decisions relating to the NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan for dentistry.

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AN - SCOPUS:105017929675

SN - 0007-0610

JO - British Dental Journal

JF - British Dental Journal

ER -

‘It doesn't matter where you come from, it matters where you go': Peninsula dental students' career decisions and intentions

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