All the latest dentistry news, all in one place.

Our dental news feed will be regularly updated to help you stay informed and keep up-to-date with everything that's happening in the industry.

BDA: Professional bodies demand end to attacks on overseas workforce

Healthcare professionals from ‘international backgrounds, or perceived as ethnically distinct from the majority population, are facing a sustained campaign of anti-migrant rhetoric’

What Britain’s ageing population means for the future of dentistry

From falling birth rates to rising living costs, Britain’s population trends are transforming the profession. David Willetts discusses what these changes mean for dentists, patients and policymakers alike.

Overseas registration exam: petition launches to reform booking system

Dentistry has launched a petition calling for a priority booking system to be introduced for the overseas registration exam (ORE).

Government calls for evidence for 10 Year Workforce Plan

The Department of Health and Social Care has invited NHS partners and stakeholders to contribute to a call for evidence for the 10 Year Workforce Plan.

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Calls made for Scottish Government-backed national dental labs

The dental practice sales market is buoyant in Scotland, with transaction levels rising and more entrepreneurial dentists keen to create their own groups. This is according to the findings from a forum led by the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NADSAL). Read more

Sexual misconduct training developed by royal college

A new course designed to help tackle sexual misconduct in healthcare has been launched by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Read more

Toothpaste made from hair provides natural root to repair teeth

Toothpaste made from your own hair may offer a sustainable and clinically effective way to protect and repair damaged teeth. Read more

Number of UK registered dental care professionals rises again

The number of dental care professionals (DCPs) on the UK Register has expanded to its largest size in recent years, following the annual renewal period. Read more

GDC publishes report on AI use in dentistry

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published a report examining how artificial intelligence (AI) is currently being used in dental services and the potential implications for dental professionals, patients and the wider sector. Read more

Licences needed for Botox clinics in cosmetics crackdown

The government has announced plans to crack down on dodgy cosmetic practitioners in England who it says are exploiting people and causing harm. Under the new proposals, only qualified health professionals will be able to carry out risky non-surgical Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) and clinics will need to meet strict… Read more

Put an end to dentists flipping burgers with ‘dental oases’, says ADG

The Association of Dental Groups introduces its solution to the dental deserts leaving patients in pain and overseas dentists working in fast food restaurants. On 18 June 2025, the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), the trade body representing NHS, private and community-based Services, published its Creating Dental Oases – the Solution… Read more

GDC releases analysis of DCPs’ working patterns

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published its inferential analysis reports for dental care professionals (DCPs). The reports are the first set of DCP data that combines working patterns, registration information and aggregated fitness to practise (FtP) data. Read more

Minister Cautious: LDCs Told – UDAs For Now

The annual LDC conference may have appeared to those delivering NHS care, as a triumph of hope over experience. Read more

The consent conundrum

‘Consent isn’t just a signature’: Biju Krishnan shares some tips on testing patient understanding and why a nod probably won’t suffice. Read more

Equality, safe workplaces and respect: what dental nurses need

Preetee Hylton discusses the challenges that dental nurses face as the largest and most female-dominated GDC registrant group and how we can overcome them. Read more

Only 250 non-practising UK dentists actively seeking work

Fewer than 250 non-practising dentists are actively seeking work in dentistry, sparking caution from leading experts. Released today, the General Dental Council (GDC) has unveiled its second annual set of dentists’ working patterns data. Read more

PAC report flags 5.5K gap in dental workforce

ADG cautions the need to take a ‘TOTAL TEAM’ approach The long-awaited Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ‘Fixing NHS Dentistry’ report lands today and the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) warns that the priority should be filling the massive gap in the total dental workforce. Read more

AI in dentistry and healthcare: understanding potential and risks is ‘critical’

Artificial intelligence in dentistry and healthcare should provide clinicians with information, not recommendations, in order for teams to offer the most appropriate treatment. Read more

Complaints about private dentistry rise by 133% in one year

Private dental complaints in the UK have more than doubled in just one year, with leaders saying it highlights the ‘challenging environment’ the profession is working in. Released today by the Dental Complaints Service (DCS), the report – which looks at complaints made in 2023 and 2024 – highlights the… Read more

Average pay for associate dentist rises for third year in a row

Average associate remuneration is up for the third year in a row to £90,161 – marking an 11.9% increase, according to new statistics. Today. the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers (NADSAL) published their annual benchmarking report for the financial period of 2023-24. Read more

Do direct-to-consumer orthodontics have a place in dentistry?

Dentistry.co.uk explores the rise of direct-to-consumer orthodontics – what does the term mean, is it safe and does the dental profession support it? Read more

Three in four employees work while physically or mentally unable

Two thirds of people said they felt self-imposed pressure to continue working while ill in a survey of UK employees on the topic of workplace wellbeing. Read more

BDA elects new General Dental Practice Committee chair

‘A make or break moment for NHS dentistry’: Shiv Pabary has been elected the new chair of the British Dental Associations’s General Dental Practice Committee (GDPC). Read more

Service costs for dental foundation training to increase

Service cost payments to practices hosting foundation dentists are set to increase for the first time in a decade. Read more

Pay increase for NHS dentists dubbed ‘inadequate’

A pay uplift of 4.64%for NHS dentists in England has been confirmed, as experts warn that this represents a ‘pay cut’ in real terms. This is despite the recommendation of a 6% increase by the Doctors and Dentists Review Body last year. The pay rise will be backdated to April… Read more

Dentistry’s 2024 round up

We’re back with our annual round up of the biggest dental headlines of the year. From ORE changes to the NHS dental recovery plan progress – check out 2024’s top dental stories below. Read more

Reflecting on 2024: progress and milestones in dentistry

Polly Bhambra reflects on different moments from an eventful year in dentistry and her goals for the coming year. Read more

Significant gap in dental workforce, says association

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has highlighted the significant gap in the dental workforce, as it awaits the government and the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) action plan to deliver on their election manifesto pledges for NHS dentistry. Read more

Dental Industry Awards 2024 – the winners!

FMC is delighted to present the 2024 Dental Industry Award winners and highly commended – congratulations to all who made it. The Dental Industry Awards was set up to recognise excellence in the UK dental industry. Read more

GDC publishes stakeholder perceptions research findings

The General Dental Council (GDC) today published the findings from its Stakeholder Survey 2023, showing both the progress made in recent years and areas where further improvements are needed to improve people’s views and experience of the GDC. Read more

Dental recovery plan ‘unlikely to deliver target of 1.5 million extra treatments’

The dental recovery plan will fail to reach target of 1.5 million additional NHS dental treatments by March 2025, says new research, as delivery of NHS dentistry continues to sit below pre-pandemic levels. Read more

One third of Scottish patients have problems accessing dentistry

More than one third (34%) of Scottish adults reported having difficulties when visiting the dentist according to the government, the highest proportion since 2009 Read more

Obituary: Dental Giant Michael Watson

Michael Watson, retired dentist and ‘veteran‘ of the profession, has died following a short illness. Read more

Dental amalgam – everything you need to know about its use and ban

The use of dental amalgam will be banned in the European Union from January 2025 – we take a look at the health risks associated with dental amalgam, why it’s being banned, and the impact this could have on the UK dental profession. Read more

BDA: Government has a moral duty to future proof service

The British Dental Association has stressed the dentists catering for England’s most vulnerable patients need to be recognised and valued for their work, as the community dental service struggles to meet the demands placed upon it Read more

BDA – Dentists: Treasury offer recycling, not a rescue plan

The British Dental Association has expressed grave concerns that the Treasury appears to have squeezed plans for new investment to underpin the Government’s “rescue plan” for NHS dentistry. Read more

Are dental therapists going to save the NHS?

Cat Edney examines how the role of dental therapists has evolved in recent years and explores whether they might be the solution to fixing NHS dentistry. First we saw the NHS FP-17 form altered to allow dental therapists to undertake examinations, then in came the personal number for dental therapists… Read more

BDA – Keeping dentistry on Westminster’s agenda

We have fought to put dentistry at the very top of the political agenda, and that’s continued into the political parties’ Autumn conference season We pressed ahead at both Government and Opposition annual conferences, to spell out the facts on the state of NHS dentistry. Read more

Using AI to engage gen Z in dental health

Alan Clarke explains how AI and a tech-driven approach can be used to engage millennials and gen Z in dental health. Read more

UK healthcare visa applications fall by 82%

Nearly 3,000 visa applications for health and social care work were submitted in July 2024 – an 82% decrease from July 2023. Home Office data shows that 91,300 applications were received in July for the skilled worker, health and care, and student visa routes. This had decreased by 36% compared… Read more

Health expert condemns ‘appalling’ attacks on NHS staff amidst violent unrest

The chief executive of a medical defence organisation has issued a statement denouncing growing threats of violence against healthcare workers. Read more

GDC publishes new research on the public’s experiences of dentistry

The General Dental Council (GDC) has published the latest research on public views and experiences of dental care in the UK, highlighting significant barriers to accessing dental services, especially within the NHS. Read more

EU amalgam ban: dentists in Northern Ireland granted exemption

The European Commission has approved an exemption for Northern Ireland from the EU’s new amalgam regulation, sparking reaction from the dental profession. The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed it has secured a derogation from the EU’s new mercury regulations. The ban on the use of mercury fillings in dentistry kicks… Read more

Four-day work week pilot to launch in UK after trial success

Following the success of the largest UK public sector trial of a four-day work week, campaigners are preparing to launch a new pilot. Read more

General election 2024: is Labour’s dentistry plan already a done deal?

What will a new Labour government mean for dentistry? Practice Plan sales and marketing director Nigel Jones shares his thoughts on the election result. Read more

Brine’s call to action on contract reform

We don’t need more discussions on contract reform. The Government needs to press ahead with change. This was the message that Steve Brine, the outgoing chair of the Health and Social Care Committee (HSCC), delivered to delegates at this year’s annual Local Dental Committees’ (LDC) conference in Brighton. Read more

Building a modern workforce for UK dentistry

Recruitment is at the heart of the dental workforce crisis, argues Neil Carmichael, but what is the solution? UK dentistry is in a state of crisis. Horror stories of pensioners pulling out their own teeth with garden pliers or children admitted to hospital in their thousands hit our headlines on… Read more

‘Disturbing’ rise in cancer cases linked to obesity

Cancer rates among under-50s in the UK have risen by 24% since 1995, with experts linking the increase to obesity and junk food. This is the sharpest increase compared to other age groups, with 10% among those over 75 and 14% among those aged 50 to 75. Read more

BDA- Provisional registration for dentists from abroad

As UK dentistry’s trade union and professional body, we want to ensure that the proposals for provisional registration for overseas dentists are fair and safe. We are considering the overseas dentists themselves; their supervising dentists; other colleagues; and the general public. We have explained our concerns in a detailed response to… Read more

Compulsory NHS tie-in for new dentists under consideration

The government has launched a consultation on a ‘tie-in period’ that would require newly-qualified dentists to work in the NHS for several years after graduation. Read more

CGDent presents President’s Award to John Gibson

The College of General Dentistry (CGDent) has awarded the President’s Award to Professor John Gibson, founder and CEO of The Canmore Trust. Read more

Over 60 per cent of dentists are thinking of leaving the NHS

The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to NHS data, which demonstrates morale amongst dental professionals is at an all-time low. Read more

ChatGPT found to spread incorrect health information

Research has revealed that many artificial intelligence (AI) assistants such as ChatGPT do not have adequate safeguards in place to prevent health disinformation from being shared. Read more

Refugee dentists call on government to let them help the NHS

Refugees in the UK are calling on authorities to allow them to help the NHS in the face of dental access issues. This comes as members of the public increasingly face issues trying to access an NHS dentist. Read more

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. Read more

Calls made to reform overseas registration exam in dentistry

Calls are being made for urgent reform to the overseas registration exam to help boost the dental workforce. The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is pushing its campaign to boost the UK dental workforce following alarming new statistics. Read more

More than 80 dentists claim interest for delayed COVID business interruption payouts

A group of 84 dentists have been awarded more than £380,000 from insurers as a result of delayed COVID-19 business interruption (BI) payouts. Read more