The shortage of NHS dentists is not anecdotal. It is documented in official data from the ONS, NHS England, the BDA and Parliament, and it is the context every workforce decision in dentistry now sits inside.
These are the headline figures, each with its source. They are the case for treating workforce as infrastructure rather than a recurring emergency.
ONS data shows that 96.9% of people without a dentist who tried to access NHS dental care in England were unsuccessful. Unmet need for NHS dentistry in England stands at 13 million adults, well over a quarter of the adult population.
As of March 2024, over a fifth of NHS general dentist positions were vacant, amounting to nearly half a million days of lost NHS activity. While many dentists do some NHS work in England, the full time equivalent number is far lower than historic estimates.
Frustration with the contract led to over 400 million pounds of NHS UDA contracts being handed back in a single year. In some regions the rate of contracts handed back has risen several times over since 2020.
At a February 2025 evidence session, NHS England and the Department of Health acknowledged that the Dental Recovery Plan failed to deliver additional activity and that the contract is unfit for purpose. Lord Darzi independent review echoed the call to fix the contract.
Sourced from official bodies. Always check the source for the current position.
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ONS data shows 96.9% of people without a dentist who tried to access NHS care in England were unsuccessful, and unmet need stands at 13 million adults.
As of March 2024, over a fifth, 21%, of NHS general dentist positions were unfilled, amounting to nearly half a million days of lost NHS activity.
Yes. Over 400 million pounds of NHS UDA contracts were handed back in a single year, with the rate rising several times over since 2020 in some regions.
Government has accepted the Dental Recovery Plan failed and that the contract is unfit for purpose, and the Darzi review called for reform. Dentello addresses the workforce side directly.
Explore how Dentello solves the workforce side of the crisis, or talk to the team.
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