What the BDA does

As a professional body and trade union, our duty is to serve the needs of our members.

We work to ensure that the voice of dentists is heard across the UK by providing data, briefings and information to the Government, lobbying for change to improve conditions for dentists and their teams. We listen when members speak up, using your stories and evidence from the frontline to bring dentists together and enact change.

Together we can achieve more than we can individually. Together, we are stronger.

Priorities

Learn about our current priorities.

Lobbying

Learn about our lobbying work in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Take action

Learn how to get involved in our campaigns.

Latest advocacy news

England: Don’t let minsters mark their own homework on dentistry

We are urging MPs to drop government plans to abolish Healthwatch England.

England: Government exempt quality improvement and appraisals from uplifts

Officials take a pick-and-mix approach to supporting contract holders.

Ham-fisted reform rollout to undermine patient care

Software suppliers raise red flags over practicalities ahead of the new NHS Dental Services Portal launch.

Northern Ireland: How low can you go?

Registration crash shows writing on wall for Health Service dentistry.

700 days on: What has happened to the Governments promise to ban energy drink sales to children

Children are still able to buy sugary, acidic, high caffeine drinks – and do so at an alarming rate.

LDC delegates demand Government action following controversial reforms

A series of urgent calls for reform took centre stage at the Local Dental Committees (LDC) Annual Conference in Manchester (4–5 June).

England: DPH workforce - Concessions, but deep cuts remain

We’ve secured some reductions in the level of cuts to the Dental Public Health (DPH) workforce, but these concessions don’t do enough to protect this strategically essential function.

Baby food sales crash, but Government must step up

Exposé into pouches more sugary than Coke hits the industry where it hurts.

Public point finger at NHS dentistry, not dentists

New polling shows sky-high satisfaction with the care patients receive.

Top industry award reflects our commitment to members

We are delighted to have scooped Best In-House Comms Team in the prestigious PRWeek/In.Comms Corporate Affairs Awards 2026.

Northern Ireland: Funding measures acknowledged, but we challenge NI Executive to go further and faster

Moving to full dental payment reform now key.

Wales: Untested reforms mean access crisis will deepen

Patients to face more costly, less frequent care.

Together we are stronger

Making a difference for dentistry

Campaigning for change doesn’t just happen; it's powered by members. Join us today.

Become a BDA member