Locums feel like a lifesaver when a dentist leaves.

They are also one of the fastest ways to erode your margin per UDA if you rely on them for too long.

This article breaks down:

  • what locums really cost per UDA
  • how they compare to a stable associate
  • where a Dentello model sits in between

Why locums feel "safe"

When a dentist hands in their notice, your instinct is:

"We need someone in that chair now."

Locums are designed for that:

  • they can start quickly
  • they cover urgent sessions
  • they buy you time while you recruit

The problem comes when a few weeks quietly turn into months.

The real cost of a locum per UDA

Typical locum dentist rates:

  • £500 to £600 per day
  • roughly 20 to 30 UDAs per day, depending on clinic, list and systems

Effective UDA Cost:

  • Best case: £500 ÷ 30 ≈ £17 per UDA
  • Worst case: £600 ÷ 20 = £30 per UDA

On top of that:

  • travel and accommodation
  • cancellations
  • time spent re-explaining systems and preferences

If your permanent associate would normally cost you £13 per UDA, it's easy to see how sustained locum use pushes your average UDA cost up sharply.

The value of a stable associate

A good long-term associate offers:

  • consistent UDA delivery
  • continuity for patients
  • private treatment growth from their list
  • cohesion with a regular nurse and reception team

Financially, a stable associate:

  • keeps your cost per UDA predictable
  • reduces the need for emergency locum days
  • lowers your risk of clawback from under-delivery

The challenge is getting and keeping that dentist without paying large agency fees every time.

Where Dentello fits: permanent UDAs, locum-proofed pricing

Dentello is designed so that permanent associates feel as safe as possible.

Instead of:

  • paying £5,000 + VAT to an agency up front
  • then still paying a high UDA rate
  • and carrying all the risk if they leave

Dentello offers:

  • fees starting from £12.50 per UDA including our own fees
  • most clinics sitting between £12.50 and £14.50 per UDA, depending on area and requirements
  • a replacement guarantee for the full length of the contract

That means:

  • your associate is treated as long-term
  • your effective UDA cost stays within a controlled band
  • if it doesn't work out, Dentello is committed to replacing them under your agreement rather than charging a brand-new fee

Over a year or two, this structure is designed to be significantly more efficient than relying on locums at £17 to £30 per UDA.

When a locum still makes sense

Locums absolutely still have a place:

  • short-term cover for holidays or sickness
  • bridging a short gap between outgoing and incoming associates
  • occasional special interest clinics

The issue isn't using locums.
The issue is depending on them because your recruitment model doesn't truly fix the vacancy.

Make locums the exception, not the habit

If you want locums to be an exception rather than a habit, look at Dentello as your long-term workforce partner, so most of your UDAs are delivered by stable associates within a known cost band.