Payment systems
- Dentists working for the NHS in England and Wales are paid based on Units of Dentistry Activity.
- This payment system was established in 2006 and replaced the previous system that only incentivized treatment without focusing on preventative work.
- The payment system encourages dentists to provide preventative care.
- The payment system is different in England and Wales compared to the rest of the UK.
- The system aims to strike a balance between treatment and prevention.
NHS England
- In 2017, NHS England initiated the procurement process for 363 orthodontics contracts.
- The British Dental Association and the Association of Dental Groups requested the contracting process to be stopped in December 2019.
- Some of the contracts had already been abandoned.
- The contracting process faced criticism and concerns from dental associations.
- The procurement process aimed to improve access to orthodontic services.
Wales
- The Welsh Government launched the Designed to Smile scheme in 2009.
- The scheme provides toothpaste and toothbrushes to new parents and encourages them to take their child for a dental appointment before their first birthday.
- Older children are encouraged to brush their teeth in school, and free fluoride varnish treatment is available.
- The Welsh National Assembly's Health, Social Care, and Sport Committee conducted an inquiry into the dental system in Wales in May 2019.
- The inquiry highlighted concerns about disincentives for dentists to take on patients requiring extensive dental treatment.
Education and registration
- Dentists in the UK complete 5 years of undergraduate study to earn a B.D.S. or BChD degree.
- After graduation, most dentists enter a vocational training scheme to receive their full National Health Service registration.
- Dentists must register with the General Dental Council (G.D.C.) before practicing.
- The Dentists Act 1957 defines dentistry and restricts its practice to registered dentists.
- There are 16 dental schools in the UK, with some offering graduate entry programs for applicants with a strong background in biomedical sciences.
References
- General Dental Council is the governing body for dentistry in the UK.
- The Care Quality Commission provides information for dental service providers.
- The British Dental Association and the Association of Dental Groups raised concerns about the contracting process in NHS England.
- Lexology published an article on the reform of the Units of Dentistry Activity system in Wales.
- The Dental Schools Council provides information on dental schools in the UK.
Dentists in the UK may undertake work under the National Health Service or privately. They may opt for either of these alternatives, or both. A small number of dentists are employed by the NHS but the vast majority are in private practice. UK dentists are regulated by the General Dental Council and the Care Quality Commission.