The ethnicity of dental practitioners in the United Kingdom.

Objective: To describe the proportion of dental practitioners, currently practising in the UK, who are from different ethnic groups. Method: Analysis of data from the British Dental Association Omnibus Survey 2000. The sample comprised 970 qualified dentists in all fields of practice. Findings: Dental practitioners from minority ethnic groups constitute approximately 14% of the population of dentists. There has been an increase in the proportion of dentists from minority ethnic groups amongst cohorts of dentists qualifying since 1987. There is some evidence that dentists from minority ethnic groups are more likely to treat patients under NHS payment. Conclusions: The profession of dentistry in the United Kingdom appears to have little problem attracting members of some minority ethnic groups in particular those of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. Individuals of Black Caribbean and Black African origin are under-represented.