Dentistry is in a constant state of flux. There are always new regulations to follow, innovative equipment to introduce, fresh techniques to implement and different clinical problems to solve. Added to all this, dental teams are faced with an ever-changing list of challenges to overcome, whether they are related directly to patient care, professional development or business growth. The evolution of NHS dentistry is another significant factor affecting many practices as they attempt to navigate a world in which private services offer more options for patients and greater flexibility for clinicians.
Rising pressures
Access to NHS dentistry remains a major challenge for the UK population, with only around 31% of adults in England attending the dental practice in the 2 years prior to March 2024.[i] Perhaps even more worryingly, only about 55% of children under the age of 18 were reported to see the dentist during the same time period in England. A study by the BDA in 2024 found that around 13 million people in England were unable to access NHS dentistry, including 5.6 million who actively tried and failed to book an appointment in the previous 2 years.[ii]
This story is echoed in dental workforce data, which show that the average number of dentists per 100,000 population is lowest in the East and South West of England.[iii] This is further reflected in the high vacancy rates for qualified dentists, which is also highest in the South West. The high demand for services combined with low availability of clinicians has led to long waiting lists and consistent time pressures on practices to see as many patients as they can.
But these aren’t the only concerns for teams operating within the NHS dental framework. Though dentistry is generally considered a highly stressful profession, clinicians working within the NHS system experience the highest levels of burnout. A 2019 study[iv] found that regulation and fear of litigation were top drivers for causing stress among dentists, many of whom experienced decreased personal wellbeing, as well as physical and mental health concerns as a direct result.
While the Dental Recovery Plan published by the Department of Health and Social Care in February 2024[v] attempts to address many of these concerns, for most in the profession, it doesn’t go far enough to actually enact positive change. For example, remuneration is a massive hinderance, with dentists able to earn more delivering private dental services than NHS – where pay is generally considered to be poor for the work required. There have been calls to completely scrap the current NHS contract and start from scratch in order to effectively respond to these and many other issues.[vi]
Overcoming the challenges of change
A consequence of the above and other challenges is that many practices are moving away from NHS dentistry. These dental care providers are reducing their contractual agreements and increasing their private services in order to care for patients in a more affordable and efficient way. But this can be a difficult change in itself as it requires understanding and acceptance from patients, who will likely need to pay slightly more for their dental care.
However, there are many advantages that should be communicated to patients when they ‘go private’. Firstly, access is maximised. Waiting times are typically much shorter for private treatment compared to NHS options, meaning that individuals can book a routine check-up or schedule treatment as soon as they are ready for a more streamlined and convenient experience. They will gain access to a wider choice of treatment options, with their clinicians able to use more varied materials and cutting-edge technologies to deliver exceptional results. Add to all this the opportunity for longer appointments that aren’t rushed, and improved treatment comfort due to digital workflows, and private dentistry will soon become highly appealing to a lot of people.
The really good news is that, in most cases, the actual increase in fee tends to be minimal. There are even ways to reduce the financial impact on patients and make private dental care affordable for a broad range of people.
For instance, introducing a dental plan facilitates a smooth transition from NHS to private dentistry. It allows patients to manage their budget with affordable monthly payments that cover a set amount of their dental care. Practices may even decide to personalise their plan so that member patients can unlock lower rates for specific treatment solutions to further increase accessibility for patients and boost upselling opportunities for the practice.
IndepenDent Care Plans is a specialist provider of customised dental plans for practices across the UK. With comprehensive understanding of dentistry and the challenges facing both practices and patients, ICP will tailor their solutions to meet your needs for a smooth transition from NHS to private dental care. The dedicated Business Development Consultants are available to discuss your business requirements and offer fresh ideas to help drive your practice forwards.
Future proof your practice
The dental landscape is changing and will continue to do so for some time. Despite its huge success in years gone by, NHS dentistry has become fraught with challenges that are now affecting the care available to patients. Don’t leave the fate of your business to that of NHS dentistry – start growing your private patient base today to protect the future of your practice.
For more information and to book a no-obligation consultation, please visit ident/co.uk or call 01463 222 999
Author: Dr Robert Donald – IndepenDent Care Plans (ICP) Director
[i] NHS Business Services Authority. NHSBSA Statistics and Data Science. Dental statistics – England 2023/24. https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202324 [Accessed June 2025]
[ii] BDA media centre. 13 million unable to access NHS dentistry. July 2024. https://www.bda.org/media-centre/13-million-unable-to-access-nhs-dentistry/ [Accessed June 2025]
[iii] House of Commons Library. How does access to NHS dentistry compare across areas in England? February 2025. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/how-does-access-to-nhs-dentistry-compare-across-areas-in-england/ [Accessed June 2025]
[iv] Collin, V., Toon, M., O’Selmo, E. et al. A survey of stress, burnout and well-being in UK dentists. Br Dent J 226, 40–49 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2019.6
[v] Department of Health & Social Care. NHS England. Faster, simpler and fairer: our plan to recover and reform NHS dentistry. February 2024. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-recover-and-reform-nhs-dentistry/faster-simpler-and-fairer-our-plan-to-recover-and-reform-nhs-dentistry [Accessed June 2025]
[vi] UK Parliament. Committees. No future for NHS dentistry without reform, warns PAC, as Govt efforts fail to halt decline. April 2025. https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/206285/no-future-for-nhs-dentistry-without-reform-warns-pac-as-govt-efforts-fail-to-halt-decline/ [Accessed June 2025]
