The Diversity in Dentistry Action Group (DDAG) is now hosted by the College of General Dentistry. The group, formed in 2020 to deliver action to identify and address discrimination of all types within the dental professions, comprises over 70 members drawn from more than 35 national dental organisations.

These include the College, as well as the following:

• Annual Conference of Local Dental Committees,
• African & Caribbean Dental Association UK,
• Association of Dental Groups,
• Association of Dental Hospitals,
• British Association of Dental Nurses,
• British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons,
• British Association of Dental Therapists,
• British Association of Oral Surgeons,
• British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry,
• British Association of Clinical Dental Technology,
• British Dental Association,
• British Dental Industry Association,
• British Dental Students’ Association,
• British Endodontic Society,
• British Institute of Dental & Surgical Technologists,
• British Orthodontic Society,
• British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy,
• British Society of Paediatric Dentistry,
• Care Quality Commission, Dental Protection,
• Committee of Postgraduate Dental Deans and Directors,
• Community Dental Services,
• Dental Laboratories Association,
• Dental Professionals Alliance,
• Dental Schools Council,
• European Dental Students Association,
• Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England,
• General Dental Council, the LDC Confederation,
• National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers,
• National Institute for Health Research,
• NHS Business Services Authority,
• NHS Health Education England,
• Restorative Dentistry UK
• Society of British Dental Nurses.

In 2021, DDAG published a landmark report, Equality, diversity and inclusion within dentistry: a profession-wide commitment, which made a number of recommendations after identifying significant disparities in the ethnic profile of dental students, dental professionals and clinical dental academics, and significant under-representation of individuals from black ethnic minority backgrounds, and of women in leadership positions within dentistry.

While originally initiated within the Office of the Chief Dental Officer for England, DDAG has always been led by the member organisations themselves and operated independently of the NHS, and it will continue to operate independently within CGDent.

Dr Nishma Sharma, Chair and founder of the DDAG, said:

“Like the College of General Dentistry, the Diversity in Dentistry Action Group is an organisation formed by and for the profession it serves, and our move to the College reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that all dental team members are represented and supported, across both NHS and private dentistry, throughout the UK and beyond. On behalf of DDAG’s members, I would like to thank the OCDO for having enabled and supported our work over the last two years, and we look forward to continuing to work together at CGDent.”

Dr Abhi Pal, President of the College of General Dentistry, said:

“The realisation of the College’s founding mission – to promote career progression and job satisfaction for every dental professional – requires a wholehearted commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusivity within our great profession. The Diversity in Dentistry Action Group brings the whole profession together with this purpose, we have been a member since its inception, and we are extremely proud to be its new home.”

Further information is available at https://cgdent.uk/ddag/