Patients across England will find it easier to access urgent dentist appointments under a major overhaul of NHS Dental Services, as the government confirms sweeping reforms to the dental contract.
The changes, announced on 16 December 2025 following a public and sector-wide consultation, represent the most significant update to the NHS dental contract in years. They will come into force in April 2026.
The reforms aim to prioritise patients with the greatest clinical needs while ensuring better value from the NHS dentistry budget, estimated at around ￡4 billion. Funding will be redirected toward more complex and effective treatments for patients requiring urgent or intensive care.
Under the new system, patients with severe tooth decay or advanced gum disease will be able to receive a single, comprehensive course of treatment over a longer period. This replaces the current model, which often requires multiple appointments.
The approach is expected to improve continuity of care and could save patients up to ￡225 in fees. Dentists will be incentivised through a standardised payment package to deliver this care on the NHS.
Urgent dental care will also become a core contractual requirement for NHS dental practices. This is designed to improve access for patients experiencing severe pain, infections, dental trauma, or other conditions requiring rapid treatment, reducing the need for patients to travel outside their local area.
The reforms form part of the government’s wider plan to stabilise NHS Dental Services. Measures already underway include the expansion of urgent and emergency dental appointments, community water fluoridation schemes, and a national supervised toothbrushing programme for young children.
The toothbrushing scheme currently supports up to 600,000 children aged three to five, with more than four million toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste already distributed.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said the reforms would help restore confidence in NHS dentistry after years of decline. He said the changes would prevent dental problems from worsening and reduce avoidable hospital admissions, while also making the system more attractive to dentists.
Children’s oral health is a key focus of the reforms. Dental nurses will be encouraged to apply fluoride varnish, and dental teams will receive fairer payments for preventive treatments such as fissure sealants.
To improve workforce retention, NHS dental teams will benefit from enhanced annual reviews, learning and development opportunities, and government funding to support sick leave, alongside clearer guidance on contractual terms.
The Association of Dental Groups welcomed the reforms but highlighted ongoing workforce shortages, estimating a shortfall of more than 2,500 dentists in England.
The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry also praised the focus on prevention and prioritising vulnerable children, while calling for careful implementation to ensure the changes deliver meaningful improvements.