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.

NHS dentists to receive 4% pay rise

The government has confirmed that NHS dentists will receive a 4% pay rise, which dental experts warn will not cover the rising cost of care.

Sugar-free gum could save £388 million in dental services

Consuming three pieces of sugar-free gum per day is ‘clinically proven’ to have oral health benefits according to newly-released research.

Government calls for dentists to consult on contract reform

The government has launched a survey of dentists in England to inform plans to improve NHS dentistry and reform the NHS dental contract.

‘Ozempic mouth’: what do dental professionals need to know?

The term ‘Ozempic mouth’ is on the rise – we look at what it is and what this might mean for how dental professionals treat their patients.

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Dentists: Skimping on urgent care is fuelling antibiotic resistance

In an open letter to Wes Streeting, we have warned that a failure to fully meet demand for urgent dental care will only increase the pressures on our health service, as antibiotics become a substitute for treatment. Read more

Supervised toothbrushing launched in UK schools

A national supervised toothbrushing programme will be rolled out for UK children aged three to five from April, the government has announced. Read more

‘Little change’ to oral health gap in England, report finds

A new oral health survey has revealed that ‘wide variation’ in the prevalence of decay in five-year-old schoolchildren across England remains. Read more

Oral bacteria impacts brain health, study finds

https://dentistry.co.uk/2025/02/07/oral-bacteria-impacts-brain-health-study-finds/#:~:text=Bad%20bacteria%20from%20the%20mouth%20can%20damage%20the%20brain%2C%20leading%20to%20an%20increased%20risk%20of%20dementia%2C%20according%20to%20a%20new%20study. Read more

Calls for government action on supervised toothbrushing disparity

Supervised toothbrushing provision varies greatly between different UK areas according to new research, as experts criticise the government’s failure to implement a nationwide scheme. Read more

The Oral Health Foundation commends the parliamentary discussion addressing the critical impact of food and diet on obesity

The Oral Health Foundation commends the parliamentary discussion addressing the critical impact of food and diet on obesity and welcomes the opportunity to emphasise how nutrition influences not only weight but also oral health – a vital yet often overlooked component of overall wellbeing. Read more

Males more likely to not have dentist than females, stats show

Just over half of adults report having an NHS dentist in the last month – with one third having private treatment. This is according to new findings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Read more

BDA: Covid inquiry ignoring biggest hit and weakest recovery in healthcare

The British Dental Association has warned the mistakes made by the last UK Government during the pandemic – that have left millions unable to access dentistry – risk being repeated, given the UK Covid Inquiry’s unwillingness to consider the sector. Read more

Half of three-year-olds have never seen a dentist, survey says

Only 45% of parents said they had taken or planned to take their child to the dentist before the age of three, says a new survey. Read more

Dental crisis: the knock-on effects for mouth cancer

The ongoing dental crisis in the UK has led to fears that while many patients now simply cannot get an appointment, an increasing number of mouth cancer cases are potentially being overlooked Read more

Benefits of water fluoridation in decline, review finds

New research suggests that water fluoridation is a cost-effective measure but only leads to a slightly lower prevalence of caries in children. Read more

Calls for action on ‘national embarrassment’ of children’s oral health

‘Urgent action is needed’: a new report has laid out a strategy for the government to improve children’s oral health as research demonstrates high levels of dental disease. Read more

Experts call for NHS dental contracts reform to prioritise prevention

A new report from the College of General Dentistry, with support from Haleon, a health company and a provider of specialist oral health products, has released recommendations from oral health professionals on improving the provision of preventative oral healthcare. Read more

Two slices of ham a day ‘increases risk of type 2 diabetes risk 15%’

Meat consumption – particularly processed meat and unprocessed red meat – has been linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. According to a new study by the University of Cambridge, regular consumption of 50 grams of processed meat a day – equivalent to two slices of ham – is associated… Read more

Adults wanting to quit smoking offered vaping kit

Adults in Bath and north east Somerset wishing to stop smoking will be offered a free vaping kit in exchange for handing in cigarettes. Read more

WHO declares mpox global health emergency

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the mpox outbreak in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern. The highly contagious disease - formerly known as monkeypox - has killed at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Read more

Death by heart disease 66% more likely after tooth loss, study says

People who have lost multiple teeth are two thirds more likely to die from heart disease, according to a new study. Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine found that heart disease risk was significantly higher for people who had lost all of their teeth. Lead… Read more

Experts warns of ‘worrying’ prescription drug shortage

Half (49%) of respondents had struggled to get a prescription drug dispensed in the past two years, a recent survey found. Read more

Widespread fear of dentists still deters attendance

New research by Bupa confirms that over half of adults experience ’severe nervousness about dental appointments’ with 76% of patients who suffer from dental anxiety putting off dental visits ’entirely’. Read more

NHS trusts say cost of living crisis has worsened public health

Almost all NHS trusts in England said the health of the public has worsened in their area due to rising costs, according to new research. Read more

Researchers hope ‘lollipops’ could detect mouth cancer

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have received funding for a project to create mouth cancer-detecting lollipops. The flavoured lollipop could be set to speed up diagnoses and identify cancer at an earlier stage. Read more

Antibiotics before dental treatment could save lives, research shows

Up to 78 lives per year could be saved if dentists could administer antibiotics to vulnerable patients with heart conditions before dental treatment, research shows. Read more

Water fluoridation – consultation launched on expansion in north east

The government has today launched a consultation expanding community water fluoridation schemes in the north east of England. This comes as part of the NHS dental recovery plan that was launched last month in a bid to address the current access crisis. Read more

Four million people off work with dental illnesses

A new survey has revealed that one in 10 adults in England have missed at least two weeks of work in the past three years due to oral health concerns. Read more

Women’s hormones and oral health: from puberty to menopause

Nina Garlo-Melkas explores the issues hormonal changes can cause for patients. International Women's Day is a good time to consider the impact of hormones on oral health. From adolescence to menopause, a woman's body undergoes hormonal fluctuations that affect oral health and, consequently, overall physical and mental wellbeing. Read more

‘Artificial tongue’ developed to target oral bacteria

Researchers have designed a chemical sensor array or ‘artificial tongue’ which identifies and deactivates bacteria in the mouth. Published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, the researchers’ report explains that the project aims to speed up identification of the bacteria that cause dental diseases and bacterial infections. Read more

No health without oral health: New report sheds light on the true impact of oral disease

The Oral Health Foundation is supporting calls for multi-pronged approach to improve global oral health, following the release of a new report. Read more

DIY dentistry ‘rampant’ across the UK, BDA warns

More than eight in 10 dentists have treated DIY dentistry cases since lockdown, a poll has suggested. The poll asked 500 UK dentists: Since lockdown have you ever treated a patient that has performed any form of DIY dentistry (this could include any form of DIY dental care, from a… Read more

Government failing to break link between decay and deprivation

British Dental Association has accused ministers of dragging their heals on policies that could narrow the huge oral health gap among children. Read more

A quarter of patients delayed dental care due to costs, says oral health survey

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) has released the conclusions of its ‘Adult Oral Health Survey 2021’. Read more

‘Like a battlefield’ – dentist details volume of dental sepsis cases

The profession is warning of increased cases of dental sepsis amidst ongoing access problems in UK dentistry. As part of its new ‘Dentists for All’ campaign, The Mirror reports that one clinician in the north of England reportedly described their local hospital as ‘like a battlefield’ given the volume of dental sepsis cases. Read more

Time to take energy drinks off the menu for under-16s

We are urgently calling on policy makers to reignite plans to restrict sales of energy drinks to children, after a new evidence review of the effects of energy drinks on children revealed wider ranging risks of mental and physical health problems associated with consumption. Read more