Almost 85,000 dental care professionals (DCPs) are now registered in the UK, according to the latest figures from the General Dental Council (GDC), which show an increase of 3,746 professionals compared with the post-renewal register count in 2025.
With 84,746 DCPs now on the register, the GDC said the increase follows its annual renewal period, during which the regulator took extra steps to support DCPs who experienced technical difficulties with its new online service, MyGDC, helping to ensure they were not removed from the register because of difficulties renewing.
The GDC confirmed on 23 July that any DCP struggling to renew through MyGDC would not be removed from the register, provided they e-mailed the regulator before the deadline. The GDC also increased capacity across its customer service team to work through enquiries and support registrants.
A total of 3,769 DCPs were removed from the register following the renewal period.
DCP Annual Renewal fees
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARF payments received | 69,676 | 71,769 | 75,743 | 80,507 | 84,253 |
| Other registrations1 | 106 | 35 | 162 | 150 | 493 |
| Register count following removals2 | 69,782 | 71,804 | 75,905 | 80,657 | 84,746 |
| Removals3 | 4,377 | 3,541 | 3,236 | 3,312 | 3,769 |
| Removals as % of ARF payments received | 6.3% | 4.9% | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.5% |
- The register numbers change daily. The register count includes ARF payments, restorations, Fitness to Practise retentions and new additions to the register (between 1 and 10 August for 2026).
- Register count in week following the renewal period (for 2026, this was 10 August).
- Reasons for removal include voluntary removal, non-payment, retirement, and notifications of death.
The total numbers of the DCP professions on the register as of 17 August were:
| Professional title | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical dental technician | 423 | 439 | 456 |
| Dental hygienist | 10,055 | 11,065 | 11,407 |
| Dental nurse | 62,364 | 65,797 | 69,824 |
| Dental technician | 4,935 | 4,895 | 4,824 |
| Dental therapist | 6,787 | 8,459 | 8,824 |
| Orthodontic therapist | 1,093 | 1,257 | 1,340 |
Number of DCPs removed from the Register
| Professional title | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical dental technician | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Dental hygienist | 244 | 172 | 191 | 214 | 250 |
| Dental nurse | 3,941 | 3,189 | 2,875 | 2,894 | 3,261 |
| Dental technician | 261 | 210 | 185 | 191 | 221 |
| Dental therapist | 92 | 78 | 112 | 135 | 203 |
| Orthodontic therapist | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 20 |
Not all professionals who leave the DCP register stop practising dentistry altogether. Of the 250 dental hygienists removed from the register this year, 63 remain registered as dentists. Of the 203 dental therapists removed, 86 are now registered as dentists.
The DCP register changes throughout the year as new professionals register and others leave the register. As a result, the number of registered professionals typically rises between annual renewal periods before falling when those who do not renew are removed.
For those who have been removed, the GDC said it has made it easier to restore registration so that professionals can continue to practise in the UK if they have been off the register for less than 12 months and have always complied with CPD.
More information is available in the GDC’s monthly registration reports and annual registration statistical report.
