CDO discusses the future of dental technology education
The meeting focussed on funding, modernisation and collaboration.
The Dental Technologists Association (DTA) has held a meeting with Tom Ferris, Scotland’s Chief Dental Officer (CDO), to discuss the current state and future of dental technology education in Scotland.
The meeting was attended by key members of the DTA, including President Delroy Reeves, Council Members Rob Leggett and Jade Ritch, and Lead DCP Elaine Hutchison. During the meeting, several issues were addressed:
- Funding for technician training: The CDO acknowledged the lack of current funding for extending technician training in Scotland and shared that his team were working through options to improve the current position.
- Enhancing dental technology education: Discussions were held on the challenges faced by training centres faced with the need to focus on modern as well as traditional technology methods. It was noted that the number of registered dental technicians has decreased from 7,400 in 2008 to around 5,000 today, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise the entry-level pipeline; with a particular emphasis on widening-access programmes.
- Collaborative support for dental technologists: The DTA and CDO explored ways to work collaboratively to support both qualified and in-training dental technologists. Ideas included utilising underused training lab capacity, and encouraging dental hospitals and registered labs to take on trainees.
- Future meetings and broader representation: The group discussed the importance of ensuring a range of organisations are involved in future meetings to better represent the dental technology community. The next meeting is scheduled for February 2025, with plans to invite additional contacts.
The DTA said it remains committed to advancing the field of dental technology and ensuring that dental technologists receive the support and training they need to succeed. A spokesperson added: “We look forward to continued collaboration with the CDO and other stakeholders to achieve these goals.”