Workforce practices of orthodontists in Australia: now and in the future

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Qualified orthodontist concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia (n = 19)

Theme	n (%)
Cost of specialist training	1 (5.2%)
Not enough trainee orthodontists interested in practice ownership	1 (5.2%)
Insufficient orthodontists	3 (15.7%)
Operating costs of practice ownership	2 (10.5%)
Lack of interest in specialty training	1 (5.2%)
Low quality orthodontic care driven by marketing	3 (15.7%)
Not enough orthodontists in academia	1 (5.2%)
Overseas orthodontists working in Australia without proper qualification	2 (5.2%)
Public not aware/appreciative of specialist orthodontic qualifications	2 (5.2%)
Shortage of orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas	2 (10.5%)
ASO not doing enough for members	3 (15.7%)
Staffing issues	3 (15.7%)

Trainee orthodontist years until qualification and state of practice

	n (%)
Approx years until qualification
1	8 (25)
2	10 (31.2)
3	14 (43.7)
Intended state of practice
New South Wales	9 (28.1)
Victoria	7 (21.8)
Queensland	9 (28.1)
Western Australia	0 (0)
South Australia	1 (3.1)
Australian Capital Territory	2 (6.2)
Northern Territory	0 (0)
Tasmania	0 (0)
Undecided	4 (12.5)

Comparison of FTE units/clinician between different respondent groups

Respondent group	Average FTE units/clinician (SD)	Comparison group	Difference in FTE units	P value
<5 years experience	1.00 (0.21)	TOs	0.00	1.000
		6 to 10 years	0.11	0.739
		11 to 20 years	0.13	0.487
		21to 30 years	0.21*	0.039
		30+ years	0.37*	<0.001
6 to 10 years experience	0.89 (0.19)	TOs	-0.11	0.572
		<5 years	-0.11	0.739
		11 to 20 years	0.01	1.000
		21 to 30 years	0.10	0.686
		30+ years	0.25*	0.004
11 to 20 years experience	0.87 (0.25)	TOs	-0.13	0.225
		<5 years	-0.13	0.487
		6 to 10 years	-0.01	1.000
		21 to 30 years	0.08	0.611
		30+ years	0.23*	<0.001
21 to 30 years experience	0.78 (0.26)	TOs	-0.22*	0.003
		<5 years	-0.21*	0.039
		6 to 10 years	-0.10	0.686
		11 to 20 years	-0.08	0.611
		30+ years	0.15	0.068
30+y experience	0.63 (0.32)	TOs	-0.37*	<0.001
		<5 years	-0.37*	<0.001
		6 to 10 years	-0.25*	0.004
		11 to 20 years	-0.23*	<0.001
		21 to 30 years	-0.15	0.068
Males	0.83 (0.30)	Females	0.00	0.998
		Prefer not to say	-0.10	0.796
Females	0.83 (0.22)	Males	-0.00	0.998
		Prefer not to say	-0.11	0.793
Prefer not to say	0.91 (0.14)	Males	0.10	0.796
		Females	0.11	0.793
TOs	1.01 (0.14)	<5 years	0.00	1.00
		6 to 10 years	0.11	0.572
		11 to 20 years	0.13	0.225
		21 to 30 years	0.22*	0.003
		30+ years	0.37*	<0.001
		<5 years	0.00	1.00

Qualified orthodontist years since qualification and state of practice

	n (%)
Years since qualification
<5	16 (10.1)
6-10	19 (12.0)
11-20	40 (25.3)
21-30	41 (25.9)
>30	42 (26.5)
State of practice
New South Wales	46 (29.1)
Victoria	38 (24.0)
Queensland	27 (17.0)
Western Australia	10 (6.3)
South Australia	28 (17.7)
Australian Capital Territory	6 (3.7)
Northern Territory	0 (0)
Tasmania	3 (1.8)

QOs and TOs concerns about the future of orthodontics in Australia

	QOs			TOs
	Neutral n (%)	Minor concern n (%)	Major concern n (%)	Neutral n (%)	Minor concern n (%)	Major concern n (%)
GDPs practicing orthodontics	13 (8.2)	74 (46.8)	71 (44.9)	4 (12.5)	15 (46.8)	13 (40.6)
Too many orthodontists	57 (36.5)	83 (53.2)	16 (10.2)	14 (43.7)	12 (37.5)	6 (18.7)
Not enough orthodontists in academia	21 (13.4)	53 (33.9)	82 (52.5)	11 (34.3)	10 (31.2)	11 (34.3)
Too few patients	62 (39.7)	78 (50)	16 (10.2)	13 (40.6)	14 (43.7)	5 (15.6)
DTC appliances	27 (17.3)	86 (55.1)	43 (27.5)	10 (31.2)	10 (31.2)	12 (37.5)
Corporate orthodontic practices	33 (21.1)	76 (48.7)	47 (30.1)	5 (15.6)	15 (46.8)	12 (37.5)
Not enough orthodontists in non-metropolitan areas	32 (20.5)	71 (45.5)	53 (33.9)	15 (46.8)	13 (40.6)	4 (12.5)
Artificial intelligence	43 (27.5)	90 (57.6)	23 (14.7)	13 (40.6)	12 (37.5)	7 (21.8)

Retirement intentions of QOs and TOs

	QOs	TOs
	From now, when do you intend to retire?	From qualification, when do you intend to retire?
Time until retirement	n (% of total FTE)	n (% of total FTE)
<1year	10 (4.6)	0 (0)
1 to 2 years	9 (5.1)	0 (0)
2 to 5 years	32 (20.2)	0 (0)
5 to 10 years	28 (17.1)	0 (0)
10 to 20 years	25 (18.2)	3 (7.6)
20 to 30 years	19 (13.4)	6 (19.1)
30+years	5 (2.9)	11 (33.7)