Should NHS dentists be paid more to take on more NHS patients?
NHS dentists in England are paid through practice contracts based on Units of Dental Activity (UDAs). The minimum UDA value has been £28 since the 2024 recovery plan, and actual values vary widely between practices. Contract reforms in April 2026 added a £75 fee for urgent care and new complex care pathways, but came with no new money. A BDA survey in September 2026 found 63% of dentists expected to cut NHS work, and unmet need exceeds 13 million people.
3 Opinions
Yes. We might not like it, but it's clearly necessary. The Magic Money Tree (the taxpayer) probably can't take it, though. Edited
I could not find an NHS dentist anywhere in the county.
the main problem is the whole UDA contract design, so the solution should be a major redesign, with a raise in lieu of this being sorted properly.