An integrated curriculum for dentists and dental therapists in Liverpool

The role of the dental therapist has evolved over the course of the past 70 years, both in the UK and across the globe. The General Dental Council's Scope of practice guidance sets out the skills and abilities of each of the professional roles within the dental team, including the dental therapist. Scope of practice of the multidisciplinary team remains poorly understood, to the detriment of teamworking. The dental profession is under pressure and the development of a flexible and appropriately trained skill mix might help us adapt to meet the oral health needs of the population, while leveraging a sustainable workforce. In 2019, the School of Dentistry at the University of Liverpool introduced a novel 'centennial curriculum', designed to fully integrate the interprofessional training requirements of dentists and dental therapists, following application via two distinct routes of entry. Challenges have arisen and addressing these has required a culture of openness and honesty regarding the complexities of shared care and scope of practice. Scope of practice of the multidisciplinary team remains poorly understood, to the detriment of teamworking.NHS England's workforce plan aims to have the right number of staff, with the right skills and competencies, in the right place, at the right time, to deliver services that provide the best possible patient care and meet demand, within an affordable budget. For this, the profession is required to have a flexible and appropriately trained skill mix. The NHS needs to develop healthcare professionals who can adapt to meet the oral health needs of the population while leveraging a sustainable workforce.In 2019, the School of Dentistry at the University of Liverpool introduced a novel 'centennial curriculum' designed to fully integrate the interprofessional training of dentists and dental therapists. We discuss the challenges we have faced and how these have been addressed.