Abstract for: The use of system dynamics in a strategic review of the English dental workforce

This paper describes how system dynamics (SD) was used in 2013 on a strategic review of the English dental workforce. The project was commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) through the Department of Health (DH) with the purpose of projecting and analysing the future supply of, and demand for, the English dental workforce through to 2040. The project was driven by the need to provide sustainable, high quality dental services in a complex and evolving environment given recent fluctuations in dental student numbers. The system dynamics approach meant that robust, evidence-based supply and demand models could be created to test potential policies and their impact. Significant policy decisions were made as a result of this work.