The British Association of Dental Nurses (BADN), the UK’s professional association for dental nurses, welcomes the statement issued by Dental Protection today that “Female dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) should be well supported through the menopause and perimenopause to ensure we retain passionate and skilled clinicians in the workforce for as long as possible.”

BADN has recently published its Menopause Guide and Policy for dental practices to adopt in support of menopausal employees.  This BADN Policy has been endorsed by the British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT), the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT), the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA), the College of General Dentistry (CGDent), the Dental Laboratories’ Association (DLA), the Dental Technologists’ Association (DTA), the Orthodontic National Group (ONG) and the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).  The BADN Menopause Policy document is available on the BADN website.

BADN members also have access to the Health and Wellbeing Hub (which includes a support/counselling helpline) in the members-only area of the BADN website www.badn.org.uk.

“We are delighted that Dental Protection are supporting BADN’s move to increase awareness of menopause” said BADN President-elect Debra Worthington “to encourage discussion of the issues facing menopausal women in the workforce.  We recognise that this is still a difficult subject for many people and have produced this advice sheet with lists of relevant legislation, useful articles/websites and  a specimen policy to break this taboo.”

In the UK, 99% of dental nurses, 96% of orthodontic therapists, 94% of dental hygienists,  92% of dental therapists, 52% of dentists and 27% of dental technicians are female – 78% of the regulated dental profession as a whole – and the policy outlines the challenges faced by menopausal women in the workplace and suggests ways in which employers can support menopausal employees.