<p><b>Introduction</b> Hospital dentistry is predicted to face a shortage in specialists. To ensure the sector remains viable and effective, it is necessary to understand what drives dentists in the hospital environment to become specialists. What hospital dentists find attractive about training posts and what motivates them is explored. This knowledge will contribute to workforce planning within the sector.</p><p><b>Methods</b> Demographical data, motivators and opinions on speciality training were collected from hospital dentists working in the United Kingdom. Descriptive and inferential statistics are presented with open-text answers analysed using content framework analysis.</p><p><b>Results</b> The biggest attraction for hospital dentists at all career stages to undertake speciality training was the desire for career development. Early career dentists (ECDs) not undertaking speciality training were doing so due to hospital working culture and staff shortages, with these impacting on the selection and application processes. Predominant motivators for hospital dentists were patient-related factors, though differences were identified between dentists at different career stages.</p><p><b>Discussion and conclusion</b> It is suggested that the identified barriers for ECDs to apply for speciality training can be addressed by the dental profession and organisations providing training and healthcare services. Addressing these issues could help ease the predicted shortage of hospital specialists. Further exploration of the barriers to specialist training and into workplace culture would be welcome for the profession.</p>