David MylesThe challenges faced by those aspiring to have a career in dentistry continue to persist for people racialised as Black and domiciled within the UK. At the same time, the financial cost may not be as exorbitant as the U.S., particularly if a new bill that will likely only intensify disparities and accessibility to underfunded students goes ahead. Dubbed The Beautiful Bill, from July next year, The Republican Party intend to abrogate the Graduate PLUS loan and provisions for undergraduate loans which will adversely affect students without the necessary financial capital who have historically been excluded.
As alluded to in an interview with members of The Black Dental Network (BDN) in 2024, statistics show that only 1.7% of dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) within the UK are Black and this number has remained somewhat static with fluctuations over the last 8 years. While Asian and British Asian dentists are said to have increased by just over 720 during the period of 2017 and 2020, Black dentists rose by a marginal figure of 35, with Black DCPs increasing by just over 550.
Between 2017 and 2020, ‘Asian or Asian British’ dentists rose by 722 compared with 35 Black dentists and DCPs by 553 compared with 30 Black DCPs.
Dentist profession, Blessings Moyo who has been a member of the BDN since 2023, witnessed the lack of Black representation at open days for work experience. Attesting to the lack of a Black presence, she said: ‘’It was quite challenging getting into dentistry. At the time when you would go into open days, there weren’t really other Black students’’. However, since the advent of the BDN, Black students can navigate and source vital work experience opportunities accompanied by a more inclusive process. Blessings adds ‘’Now with organisations such as the grassroots [an initiative within the BDN] it just makes it a bit easier for current year 12 students to actually find work experience’’.
A lack of representation fuels a lack of guidance
Blessings found the process of applying for a dentistry degree via The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) mountainous but cites the support she received from her sixth form. This did not come with shortfalls. The lack of students going into medicine and dentistry in her year group meant that resources were void, resulting in no dedicated career advisors able to guide ambitious hopefuls seeking to study medicine or dentistry. Although in Blessing’s case, there was an absence of tailored career advisors for dentistry and medicine, her remarks seem to reflect a more general sentiment amongst secondary school children concerning career advice. This is underscored in a 2024 report by the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza’s report that claimed over a third of 12 – 18-year-olds did not believe they were given adequate information about job prospects and career trajectories.
Fortunately, Blessings was able to gain clarity pertaining to the process of applying for dentistry school from a student who was two years senior at her school. She completed her dentistry degree back in 2016 from the University of Manchester.
Northampton-based dentist; Naomi Kronkah joined the BDN in 2022. She said: ‘’I also noticed that there is a lack of representation of Black people within dentistry in general. I didn’t grow up with a lot of Black people in dentistry, or even in the medical field. So, I didn’t get all the information I needed to choose my career. This is why I do believe that representation matters. I feel that maybe if I did have that representation, my career goals would have been more aligned and in high school I would have shadowed more dentists and been more interested in dentistry. But because I didn’t have that, I had to kind of figure it out on my own and develop that passion in dentistry’’.
Unique experiences: Arriving at the centre from the periphery
Naomi Kronkah describes her expedition into dentistry which has led to a career as unique. ‘’I never went into dentistry because I wanted to do be a dentist’’ admits Naomi.
’I really had to try it and understand it, before I fell in love with it’’ – Naomi Kronkah
Not dissimilar to many teenagers, Naomi was unsure of her career destination. Initially, she began a degree in pharmacology, but after a semester, Naomi and her family relocated back to her parents’ place of birth, Ghana. Not satisfied with her course in pharmacology, Naomi used her time contemplating her next steps which led her back to Europe. Over 4,640 miles from where she commenced her Pharmacology degree in England, Naomi explored an array of courses in Spain and declared ‘’that is how I stumbled across dentistry’’. This incidental experience proved gratifying, leading to the Canadian-born student remaining in Spain and eventually graduating from dental school in 2022.
Naomi Kronkah
Naomi said: ‘’I always wanted to be in the medical field, but with dentistry, it was a little bit different. I don’t think anyone grows up thinking, oh I want to be fixing teeth for the rest of my life’’. For Naomi, she had to gain a better insight into the profession by immersing herself in all its multifarious aspects. ‘‘I really had to try it and understand it, before I fell in love with it’’ she adds.
Much like Naomi, Blessings did not consider a career in dentistry. In year 10, Blessings was intrigued by law and was considering a career in the industry. In retrospect, she said: ‘’I think at that age you think, oh you do a degree in law and then you automatically become a lawyer’’. As an inquisitive person, Blessing discovered that the process was less than straightforward. Although dentistry is also far from an uncomplicated process, Blessings set her goals on a career in either medicine or dentistry. Her admiration for the sciences when doing A Levels ‘’just made it make sense’’.
A nomadic life
After dental school in Spain, Naomi was at a juncture. Should she return to her place of birth in Canada and carve out a career in dentistry or go elsewhere? Returning to Canada would mean she would have to undergo additional training, but eager for more experience in her practice before seeing that former as a viable option, Naomi continued exploring opportunities ubiquitously.
Media Lead for The Black Dental Network (BDN) and Principal Dentist, Arnold Gangaidzo with school pupils
It was not long before Naomi was acquainted with Arnold Gangaidzo who is a vocal figure within the BDN. Watching his video inspired Naomi to return to the UK to undergo more dental training. Still maintaining a quintessential Canadian accent, Naomi said: ‘’That is how I actually started my dental career in the UK’’.
Flexibility without the pay penalty
A Better Work report in 2023 conducted by well-known recruited platform, Indeed found that 63% of over 5,000 workers would accept a deduction in pay in exchange for greater flexibility. Of those surveyed, flexibility was considered by 41% of people to be a measurement of how progressive a company is. Women placed a greater emphasis on flexibility at 63%, compared to men with a figure of 57%. Those from global majority backgrounds said to favour flexibility at a percentage of 67%, in contrast to those from White backgrounds, at 57%.
Blessings can recall speaking to people she knew who were practising doctors and dentists and concluding that she was more oriented towards a career in dentistry. The flexibility of the working hours greatly appealed to the mom of a three-year-old. ‘’I remember a dentist who I spoke to saying to me I know that it is not something that you will be thinking about in this moment in time, but it is a great career for women, especially when it comes to having children. You have got that flexibility to work part-time, whereas other careers would not really allow you to do so’’ insists Blessings.
The Black Dental Network (BDN) provides opportunities for young people to ask those pivotal questions to understand what a career in dentistry can offer
With a young child, Blessings has opted to work three days per week and argues that she has sustained autonomy to select when she works. ‘’Whereas say, I was working in the corporate world it would mean your salary is going to have to be reduced. Luckily with dentistry, that is not really the case’’ said the mom of one child.
Blessings is a general dentist but also does cosmetic work such as Invisalign and dental implants. Since returning from her maternity leave, Blessings has now finished her implant training. Currently, she works at two practices: West Yorkshire and Manchester.
Naomi also works as a general dentist and currently resides in Northampton. She has undergone a PGCert in endodontics and is presently pursuing several courses in restorative dentistry. As a recent graduate, Naomi stated ‘’I am trying to build up my skills that way’’.
Speaking to Naomi and Blessings at the time, they revealed that BDN has 186 members in their WhatsApp group, but they are mindful that not all members of BDN are in the WhatsApp group. Although it remains unclear as to how many members of BDN members are based outside of London, it is somewhat refreshing that both representatives are from locations a considerable distance from London which may help raise awareness of the BDN in locations where such a network of Black dentists and dental care professionals may arguably be more needed. This is something that Blessings is fully cognisant of. ‘’When I was in dentist school, when we had the dentists’ students’ conferences a lot of the Black students were from like Kings [Kings College], or from Queen’s Mary, compared to like the North, or elsewhere’’ said Blessings.
Grassroots events for school children continue to ascend new heights
The BDN has now held two Grassroots events which primarily cater to year 10 – 12 school children in the UK. The events have been exuberant, with hands on activities to help school children gain acuity about the multiple fields within dentistry. Feedback from emails and surveys indicate that the events are highly regarded and the number of attendees is a testament to its growth. As the years go by, both Naomi and Blessings are confident that school children at future grassroots events will be even more comfortable asking about how to circumvent their way through the process of density and to ascertain whether a career in dentistry is right for them.
As an advocate for both the natural sciences and the arts, it is reassuring to know that the BDN grassroots events have been able to demonstrate the creative aspects of dentistry with the scientific dimensions within the field.
In the past, as well as various speakers from an amalgamation of different branches within dentistry inspiring the youth with their decades of wisdom, there have also been practical sessions. These sessions have involved each student being given a typodont after a demo by a dentist from BDN. Students were then given hand instruments and were able to do their own fillings. A competition was held with the top three be winners.
Attendees at Discover Dentistry 2025 harnessing their manual dexterity skills
In the past, BDN grassroots events have partnered with the University of London’s King’s College, Bupa Dental Care, Budding Black Dentists, Dental Mentor UK, and Black Dental Student Support. Other partners have included, Kulzer who provided supplied equipment for manual dexterity exercises, and Curaden and Figs have generously provided goody bags for delegates.
Naomi who was present at this years Discover Dentistry 2025 said: ”It was nice to be able to offer students a clear explanation of the various pathways and career options within dentistry. It was especially encouraging to see parents actively engaging, asking thoughtful questions, and showing a genuine interest in supporting their children’s futures.”
