Mentoring overseas-qualified dentists in the UK

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 13 October 2026

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LEEDS, England: Overseas-qualified dentists make up an increasing proportion of those joining the UK workforce. Mentoring may help them adapt to a different healthcare system, providing a form of support that previous research has identified as important for professional integration, workforce retention and patient care. Against this background, a new study has explored overseas-qualified dentists’ experiences of mentoring to understand their mentorship needs and what they consider effective mentoring. Its findings inform practical recommendations for improving mentoring provision.

The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with ten dentists who had qualified outside the UK in or after 2009. According to the findings, participants consistently regarded mentoring as valuable; however, their experiences varied considerably. Some felt that mentors lacked an understanding of their previous training, knowledge and individual needs. Participants indicated that effective mentors were more likely to have previously supported overseas-qualified dentists or to have personal experience of the challenges of adapting to UK practice.

They viewed good mentoring as extending beyond clinical guidance to include well-being, career development and support when difficulties arose. However, some also described negative personal and professional consequences of unsupportive mentoring and raised concerns about perceived power imbalances and the potential for exploitation.

Adapting to the UK dental system was another major challenge. Participants described difficulties with National Health Service (NHS) administrative procedures, unfamiliar treatment protocols and record-keeping requirements, as well as communication with patients. Language was not the only barrier; participants also noted that colloquial expressions, cultural norms and differing expectations around preventive care, consent and patient relationships also affected their confidence. Mentoring therefore had an important role in helping dentists understand the wider culture of UK dentistry.

Some participants also reported anxiety about patient complaints and litigation, partly because they had limited experience handling such matters in their countries of qualification. They considered mentors valuable in helping them respond to and prevent complaints.

Participants also reported that supportive mentoring helped strengthen relationships within dental teams and improve integration. Conversely, some described feeling isolated when mentors offered little support in understanding unfamiliar cultural customs and workplace communication.

Participants additionally reported difficulties obtaining NHS mentorship, as well as low remuneration and restrictive contractual arrangements. Some participants described having to pay their mentors; however, the authors noted that revisions to the NHS mentoring scheme in 2023 meant that overseas-qualified dentists were no longer required to make such payments. Some participants also perceived that UK graduates were prioritised for mentoring, partly because practices received funding for supervising them. Others reported moving into private practice after being unable to secure NHS mentoring positions.

These findings are consistent with earlier research showing that the professional integration of overseas-qualified dentists in the UK is shaped by differences in access to training and employment opportunities, as well as to professional networks and support. Drawing on such previous research and their own findings, the authors of the current study recommended targeted induction programmes, alongside mentor training that recognises individual needs and cultural context. They also advocated team training to support integration and pointed to the need for the NHS and regional training bodies to promote improved access to mentorship pathways. The authors suggested that such measures could support workforce retention, team cohesion and patient care.

The study, titled “Bridging the gap: Exploring mentoring needs of overseas qualified dentists—a qualitative study”, was published online on 2 October 2026 in the British Dental Journal, ahead of final publication.

Topics:

General Dentistry

Tags:

Dental workforce Mentorship Migration NHS dentistry Overseas-qualified dentists

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