Nearly two thirds of dentists expect to reduce NHS work, BDA finds

Almost two thirds of dentists in England say they are likely to do less NHS work following recent tweaks to the dental contract, according to research by the British Dental Association (BDA).

A survey of 415 general dental practitioners, carried out over 4 to 13 September 2026, found 63% of respondents expected to reduce their NHS work, while just 1% said they were likely to increase it.

Only 10% of the dentists surveyed believed the contract changes had improved NHS dentistry, while fewer than one in ten thought the new government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham was likely to deliver fundamental reform of NHS dentistry.

When asked if the government was likely to meet patient need, properly fund the service or deliver a comprehensive workforce plan, four-fifths of respondents did not agree.

Following the release of the survey results, the BDA pointed out that the tweaks made to the NHS dental contract by former ministers had not been accompanied by new investment.

It also cited recent Nuffield Trust analysis showing that one in ten dental practices in England had given up their NHS contracts since March 2017, including 135 practices since 2024.

Separate BDA analysis of official data found unmet need for NHS dentistry remained at more than 13 million people in 2025/26, equivalent to more than one in four adults in England.

Dr Shiv Pabary, chair of the BDA’s general dental practice committee, said: ‘Fixing NHS dentistry remains unfinished business.

‘Tweaks at the margins simply haven’t changed the fundamentals. Millions still have no options, and demoralised dentists are still walking away.’

The BDA is meeting with the new team at the Department of Health and Social Care this week to call for fundamental reform of NHS dentistry and sustainable funding.

Ahead of the meeting, the association highlighted that the government did not put its proposed reforms out for public consultation over the summer as previously pledged.

Dr Pabary added: ‘Before the last election Labour told us the cavalry was coming. The longer this profession is left to wait, the less of a service there will be left to save.’