Chief dental officer (CDO) for England Jason Wong introduces the newly-announced changes to the NHS dental contract and the motivations behind them.
NHS dentistry plays a vital role in supporting the health of communities across England, and I want to thank you and your teams for the work you do every day.
The reforms announced by the government earlier this week aim to support you and improve patient experience.
They are the results of the consultation on reforms to the NHS dental contract which ran over the summer – guided by the insights shared by dental teams across the country.
We know there is much more to do, and that these reforms are just the start, but these changes are a positive step for dental professionals and patients.
A need for change
I know you’ve faced increased pressures in recent years, reflecting changes in demand, workforce patterns and the growing importance of prevention and long-term care. This has highlighted the need to update how NHS dentistry supports you to deliver care effectively and sustainably, while also continuing to improve patient experience.
That is why the government has pushed forward these reforms, which better reflect the realities of modern dental practice and respond directly to what the profession has told us.
We listened closely to dentists and your teams, as well as to patients and the public, to shape these reforms. You were clear about what would help you provide better care, and those views have been central to the approach we are taking.
Remuneration
A key focus has been to better remunerate you for the care you provide, particularly for patients who require more complex or longer-term treatment.
The reforms also place greater emphasis on longer-term treatment for patients with complex needs, helping you manage conditions such as advanced decay or gum disease more effectively. This supports improved outcomes for patients and gives appropriate weight to your clinical judgement.
The changes recognise the breadth of skills within dental teams. By making better use of the skills of dental nurses and other professionals you can focus on the care that most needs your expertise. This helps ensure care is delivered by the right person at the right time and strengthens the focus on prevention, particularly for children’s oral health.
Prevention remains central to these reforms and expanding the scope of practice for dental nurses will allow more preventative care to be delivered efficiently. Alongside initiatives like community water fluoridation, this puts a clear focus on children’s oral health and embeds prevention across NHS dentistry.
Urgent care access
Improving access to urgent care is another important element. Patients should be able to receive timely support when problems arise, while also benefiting from care that supports their longer-term oral health. Integrated care boards will be supported to implement the reforms in close partnership with you and your teams.
These reforms represent a positive step forward for NHS dentistry. They are designed to support you as professionals, improve patient experience and help build a service that is fit for the future. By working together, we can build on what already works well and support a system that remains sustainable for both patients and the profession.
We will continue to work with you in developing further reforms and improving the working environment for dental teams.
