Fleming E, Neville P, Muirhead V E. Are there more women in the dentist workforce? Using an intersectionality lens to explore the feminization of the dentist workforce in the UK and the US. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2022; DOI: 10.111/cdoe.12796.

It's complicated...

The number of male dentists registered in the UK fell by 289 between 2013 and 2021, but the number of female dentists rose by 3,596. Globally, 'the numerical increase of women into traditionally male professions continues to follow an upward trajectory.' These data imply that women are a homogenous group. However, other social identities such as race/ethnicity, age, socio-economic status and sexual orientation may intersect and hide important influences on career opportunities (or lack thereof).

Increases in numbers of women in dentistry are not seen equally across all ethnic groups. The largest increase in the UK for instance was seen in Asian and white female dentists. The number of Black female dentists rose by 63 as opposed to 1,695 Asian or Asian British female dentists between 2013 and 2020.

More women in the dental workforce does not therefore mean that all women have equal opportunities to access the profession or to progress. The relative invisibility of Black female dentists could indicate that dentistry is a privileged 'white space.' The place of women within the profession needs a more nuanced approach in order to achieve diversity at all levels.