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.

Contract Reform, NHS

Contract Delays Must Stop, LDC Conference Is Told

NHS contract reform “Needs to be in place for April next year” the national Local Dental Committee Conference was told at the weekend. “I know that’s ambitious, but time is running out.  The decade of delay and…

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​CDOs commit to roadmap

In response to our calls to commission a roadmap to ease COVID restrictions, all four UK Chief Dental Officers have issued a rare joint statement, committing to a review. Sara Hurley, Tom Ferris, Colette Bridgman and…

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New COVID Dental Study Leads To More Confusion

A newly-published study on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dental workers, has further clouded the true picture of infection risk in dental practice. In June 2020, researchers at the University of Birmingham, took blood samples…

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COVID-19, NHS

Dentistry takes top spot for most delayed healthcare service

Dentistry comes first on the list of the most delayed healthcare services in the UK.  In an Oral Health Foundation survey, almost half (45%) reported dental appointment or treatment delays in the last 12 months.…

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Contract Reform COVID-19 Finance Mental Health NHS Practice Management Regulation

Are you eligible for the COVID-19 bonus payment?

Dental professionals with an NHS contract in Wales are eligible for a one-off bonus payment as a result of COVID-19. In March, the Welsh government announced that NHS and social care staff will be awarded a bonus payment as a thank you for their work during the pandemic. The one-off… Read more

Dentists warn of exodus from service, as access crisis deepens with 30m appointments missed

The British Dental Association has urged government to set out a clear route map for reform and relaxation of covid restrictions, as new survey data points to an exodus from the service as the access crisis continues with nearly 30m appointments lost since the first lockdown. MPs are set to… Read more

‘Shocking Court Case’ Raises Fears For Practice Owners

Dental practice principals could in future be considered to be liable for the dental negligence of their associates, following a recent judgement. The BDA News website called the judgment “A shocking court case.”  It said it  highlights why some indemnity policies will not keep you safe from claims and damages.… Read more

Responding to the fallout

Neil Richardson explores the outcome of the government’s McCloud consultation and what you need to consider before making a decision. In April 2015, public sector pension schemes were reformed, with most members moved into new career average arrangements. Following consultations with member representatives when the schemes were reformed, transitional protections… Read more

‘Absolutely shocking’ – patients travel more than 50 miles to access NHS dentistry

Patients report travelling more than 50 miles to access NHS dentistry, sparking fears that the profession is being plunged into crisis even further.  Following the closure of an NHS dental practice in Scarborough, Yorkshire, patients have been travelling to cities as a far away as Leeds in a desperate bid… Read more

NHS dental teams in Wales to receive bonus payment

The Welsh government has confirmed that NHS dental teams will receive a bonus payment in response to the pandemic. Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, said the recent plans to award bonus payments to NHS workers in Wales will extend to dental services. This follows a letter put… Read more

NHS Dental Charges ‘Scrapped’ If SNP Wins Election

NHS dental charges will be removed North of the border if the SNP wins the Scottish Parliament election in May. The Scottish National Party has pledged to abolish NHS dentistry charges if re-elected, in its 75-page manifesto entitled ‘Scotland’s Future.’ The SNP has also pledged to protect free prescriptions and to increase frontline NHS… Read more

False Declarations That Staff Have Been Paid Fully May Lead To Fraud Investigations

NHS Business Services Authority has now issued its ‘Guidance to support dental contract management arrangements for the 2020/21 year-end reconciliation,’ amid warnings to those providers who have not paid their associates correctly, that they may face investigations if they make false declarations. The document specifies that practices were expected to continue… Read more

Suspension on requirement for patient signature on dental forms extended

The government has confirmed that the exemption on patient prescription signing will be extended by three months.  The Department of Health and Social Care have announced that patients will not have to sign dental forms up until 30 June 2021. Last November, the government enforced the move in a bid to reduce… Read more

NHS dental charges will not increase from April

Patient charges will not increase from 1 April in England or Wales, it has been confirmed. The Department of Health and Social Care says there will not be a hike in patient charges in England from 1 April. Similarly, the chief dental officer for Wales, Colette Bridgman, confirmed the same… Read more

NHS dental targets increase to 60% from April

NHS dental practices will need to hit 60% of their pre-COVID activity under new requirements.  This was announced under a new statement from CDO Sara Hurley and director of primary care commissioning transformation, Gabi Darby. From 1 January 2021, dental practices were asked to deliver 45% of their contracts in order… Read more

Scotland – NHS dentists miss out on 4% pay rise

NHS staff in Scotland have been offered a 4% pay rise – but dentists have been excluded.  The Scottish government confirmed that the average pay of a frontline worker could increase by more than £1,200. This will include 154,000 staff members including paramedics, nurses and domestic staff. The pay increase… Read more

Pandemic Was A ‘Dental Disaster’ Says FDI

The President of the World Dental Federation (FDI) has called the oral health aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic ‘A dental disaster.’ Dr Gerhard Konrad Seeberger said "Restrictions have certainly played a part in oral health hesitancy, but they don’t tell the whole story.”  He added "Let’s call it for what it is—a dental… Read more

Study shows non-smokers have better mental health

On No Smoking Day 2021 smokers are encouraged to put smoking behind them for a brighter future. New evidence published this week shows that smokers who quit for six weeks or more are happier than those who carry on smoking. Reductions in anxiety and depression in those who quit smoking… Read more

Budget 2021: What does this mean for you?

Luke Moore discusses what the chancellor's plans mean for dental professionals. The UK held its breath as the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, presented the 2021 budget. By this point, it was clear that the focus would be on post-pandemic recovery plans – including an outline of the financial support available beyond… Read more

Government recommends 1% pay rise for NHS dentists

This follows the latest report of recommendations to the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB). The British Dental Association (BDA) labelled the news a ‘body blow’ to an already precarious healthcare service. ‘Ministers seem to have forgotten that NHS dentistry can only survive if it is capable of… Read more

NHS staff inundated with almost 140,000 spam emails in 2020

NHS staff were inundated with more than 137,000 spam or phishing emails last year. This is according to the latest figures from NHS Digital. Obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, NHS employees reported 27,958 suspected phishing emails targeting their email service. These were drafted in a bid to encourage… Read more

London worst affected by lockdown dentist closures

New data released by the NHS has revealed the impact of lockdown-enforced dentist closures in England, with patients in London worst affected as available appointments plummeted to 21 per cent less than 2019. Almost a year on from the initial government-enforced national lockdown, the NHS has released figures which highlight… Read more

Two thirds of children did not see an NHS dentist last year

NHS dental attendance figures published last week show over two thirds of children (70.2 per cent) in England did not see an NHS dentist in the 12 months to December 31, 2020. Dental surgeons are warning the number of children admitted to hospital for tooth decay may rise, if access… Read more

NHS Calls For Pay Concerns To Be Aired

NHS dental associates who haven’t been paid fully during the pandemic are being encouraged to give voice to their pay concerns. NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) has launched a new pay concerns year-end form on behalf of NHS England and NHS Improvement. The BSA has said “The expectation from NHS England and NHS Improvement… Read more

Big bang or damp squib? What the White Paper means for dentistry

The White Paper launched by Health Secretary Matt Hancock spells fundamental change in the way healthcare works in England. The Lansley Reforms of 2012 could be history (well for the most part) and new laws are set to reach the statute books in 2022. Brace yourself for another re(dis)organisation of dentistry, say… Read more

Dental practices should withhold associates’ full pay, BDA says

Dental practices should pay associates at a lower rate until the NHS fulfils practices’ full contract value, the BDA says. Its updated guidance suggests ‘If NHS England pays the practice at the higher rate, the practice will pass that higher rate to all its associates. If NHS England pays the… Read more

Dentistry: NHS patients ‘asked to pay for private care’

Some NHS dental patients have been asked to pay for private care "if they want any treatment", according to a watchdog. Others are facing waits of up to two years for an NHS appointment, Healthwatch England has warned. One patient was in so much pain he decided to extract his… Read more

Dentistry: NHS patients ‘asked to pay for private care’

Some NHS dental patients have been asked to pay for private care "if they want any treatment", according to a watchdog. Read more

‘Two year wait’ for NHS appointment forces patients to opt for DIY dentistry

More than seven in 10 are still struggling to access dentistry as patients continue to carry out DIY dentistry, a watchdog has revealed. Read more

Coronavirus: Dentists warn millions of treatments have been missed

Dentists have provided around 19m fewer treatments in England since March this year compared to the same period last year, figures show. British Dental Association (BDA) analysis, seen by the BBC, shows practices operating at a fraction of their capacity during the pandemic. It warns hundreds of practices could be… Read more

CDO Letter – Full range of NHS dental treatments from 1st November

In a letter released 12th October, Tom Ferris CDO Scotland announced that, as of Sunday 1st November dental contractors will be able to provide a full range of dental treatments to NHS patients. This announcement follows the recent publication of the Scottish Dental Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) ‘Review of Aerosol Generating… Read more

Dentists’ leaders warn of ‘private only’ system

DENTISTS’ leaders have warned that Scotland could end up with a private only system of care with poorer patients resigned to ‘missing teeth and dentures’ if current Covid restrictions are not lifted and practices do not receive additional support. Professor Phil Taylor, Dean-Elect of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd)’s… Read more

NHS England: clarification fact sheet on dental contract

The clarification, issued by NHS England and NHS Improvement, covers abatement reconciliation, patient care activity, other contracts, eg orthodontic, domiciliary, and staffing assurance. It answers many of the questions raised by GDPs, although the language can be technical. Read more

Hospital and community dentists to receive pay rise for ‘vital’ COVID-19 work

The pay rise will be backdated to 1st April 2020 and is in recognition of their 'vital contribution' during COVID-19. The pay rise was welcomed by the BDA, but they also said that more needs to be done to sustain the ‘long term integrity of the service’. Read more

NHS England confirms abatement figure and sets out contract issues

NHS England and the CDO England have set out key NHS contractual issues caused by COVID-19, during lockdown and those that apply since 8 June. The letter confirms that abatement of 16.75% will be applied to the majority of contracts from 1 April until 8 June. Read more

Dental charity calls on government to freeze NHS patient charges

The Oral Health Foundation has urged Matt Hancock to temporarily freeze NHS patient charges in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter, issued in early July, says a freeze could help thousands of people combat dental disease and prevent deterioration of health. Read more

Government pledges to hold postponed inquiry into dentistry

The Government has pledged to hold a planned inquiry into dentistry that was postponed due to last year’s General Election. Jeremy Hunt, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, will hold the inquiry looking into issues surrounding the profession. Read more

More than half of Scottish practices feel vulnerable

Fifty-one per cent of practices don’t believe they'd be financially viable with the current funding model going into the next ‘return to work’ phase. The survey by the Scottish Dental Practice Owners’ Group also found that 57% would consider remaining closed after COVID-19. Read more