Mental health under pressure: a scoping review of suicide in the dental workforce

Br Dent J. 2026 Apr 2. doi: 10.1038/s41415-026-9546-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Aims Suicide among healthcare professionals is a growing concern. Despite evidence of high psychological distress in dental practice, suicide in dentists remains underexplored. This scoping review systematically examined the literature on suicide and suicidal ideation among dentists, including prevalence, risk factors, and temporal trends.Methods Searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source identified English-language studies reporting suicide, suicidal ideation, or related mental-health risks in dental professionals. Duplicates were removed; titles/abstracts and full texts were screened against predefined criteria. Data were extracted and thematically analysed.Results Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were mostly retrospective or observational studies. Findings on suicide rates were mixed: three studies reported elevated risk among dentists versus the general population, while two found no difference or declining trends. Reported risk factors included occupational stress, access to lethal means, substance misuse, mental-health stigma, sex, and age.Conclusions Suicide in dentistry is multifactorial. Reducing stigma, strengthening surveillance, and implementing targeted supports and interventions are needed to safeguard dentists’ wellbeing.

PMID:41927906 | DOI:10.1038/s41415-026-9546-5