Contract reform

The problem

Discredited contracts are fuelling an exodus from the NHS. Dentists are on a treadmill. The payments they receive often bare little relation to the work they do, and some treatments can be delivered at a financial loss. These systems fail high needs patients, who require and deserve more time in the chair.

The solution

We've seen tweaks to failed systems. What's required is fundamental reform and sustainable funding alongside a model of care that properly rewards dentists for prevention and supports work with the patients who need care the most.

Our impact

We lead the case for change on behalf of all dentists, in formal negotiations, and in our campaign work to fight for fair pay.

Dental Recovery Plan FAQs

We've put together some frequently asked questions for members, covering the new patient premium, new minimum UDA value, local recruitment incentives and more.

Browse FAQs

Latest news

Quality Improvement Activity and Domiciliary Care Fees update

The Scottish Government has published PCA(D)(2024)2 which advises of the arrangements for Quality Improvement Activity for the 2022-25 cycle and Amendment No. 164 to the SDR.

NHS Practitioner Health lives on, but needs a long term future

NHS England have finally commuted an eleventh-hour death sentence for NHS Practitioner Health coverage for hospital dentists and doctors.

Stormont warned NHS dentistry in its ‘final days’

This service needs a lifeline, if we’re going to protect it from the hammer blow of the ban on amalgam fillings.

Charge hike a slap in the face for hard pressed families

Another year, another round of stealth cuts.

Scotland: Payment reform update

Since payment reform was introduced on 1 November 2023, we have continued to engage with the Scottish Government and have provided feedback on the changes.

Welsh Government must show it’s not aping Westminster on charge hikes

Just a day after Westminster ramped up charges, we’re looking at what appears to be the largest single increase in charge levels in the 75 year history of the NHS.

Provisional registration plans: Ministers try to fill leaky bucket

Once again government is failing to address the root causes of the crisis in NHS dentistry, with plans to fast-track in overseas dentists through a new system of provisional registration.

Reality check: Migrants not to blame for crisis in NHS dentistry

With government backbenchers and Reform Party leaders trying to pin the crisis in dentistry on migrants, we’ve spelled out the facts.

Victorian dentistry in 21st Century Britain

A recovery plan for NHS dentistry is seemingly just days from publication, and it couldn’t come any sooner.

Children paying the price for dental crisis

Once again we’re seeing the results of Ministers dragging their heels on policies that could narrow the huge oral health gap among children.

Dentists in NI have spoken: Real reform won’t wait

Dentists across Northern Ireland have spoken with one voice: officials are asleep at the wheel, and Health Service dentistry is caught in a death spiral without radical action.

Treasury tokenism won’t stop dental crisis becoming election issue

According to recent media reports, “hundreds of millions” could be coming in the Spring budget. We welcome the change in tune from the Treasury, but the shape of this policy raises some real questions.