A New Era for NHS Dentistry in 2026?

The UK government has announced the most significant overhaul of NHS dentistry in years, introducing reforms designed to improve access to urgent care, prioritise patients with complex needs, and strengthen the dental workforce. Following a national consultation with both the public and the profession, these changes are set to come into force from April 2026, marking a critical step in the long-term recovery of NHS dental services.

Easier Access to Urgent Dental Care

Under the new NHS dentistry reforms, patients across England will find it easier to access urgent dental appointments at their local NHS practices. Urgent care, including treatment for severe pain, infection, or dental trauma, will become a core requirement of the NHS dental contract. This change aims to reduce delays, minimise travel for patients, and ensure timely treatment by fairly incentivising dentists to deliver urgent care, helping prevent conditions from escalating into avoidable hospital admissions.

Prioritising Patients with the Greatest Clinical Need

The reforms place greater emphasis on supporting patients with complex and urgent dental needs, such as severe tooth decay or advanced gum disease. A new approach will allow dentists to deliver comprehensive treatment packages over a longer period, rather than multiple fragmented appointments. This will improve continuity of care, include preventative oral health support, and could save patients up to £225 in NHS charges, while ensuring dentists are fairly compensated for more complex treatments.

Delivering Better Value from the NHS Dentistry Budget

The reforms aim to ensure the NHS dentistry budget of around £4 billion delivers better value by prioritising evidence-based treatments for patients with the greatest clinical need. By shifting away from short-term, activity-driven care, the government is working towards a more sustainable, outcomes-focused dental system, supported by wider measures such as expanded urgent care provision, water fluoridation schemes, and a stronger emphasis on prevention.

Prevention at the Heart of Children’s Oral Health

Children’s oral health is a central focus of the reforms, with prevention placed at the heart of care. A national supervised toothbrushing programme for 3-5 year olds is already supporting up to 600,000 children, alongside the distribution of millions of toothbrushes and toothpastes. Additional measures, including fluoride varnish application and fairer payments for fissure sealants, reinforce a prevention-first approach aimed at reducing tooth decay early and improving long-term dental health outcomes.

Supporting and Retaining the NHS Dental Workforce

The reforms place a strong focus on supporting and retaining dental professionals through enhanced learning and development opportunities, clearer contractual guidance, and improved support such as funded sick leave. By making better use of the full dental team, including dental nurses, the NHS aims to strengthen workforce capacity, improve patient outcomes, and address long-standing staffing pressures.

Industry and Professional Response

Government leaders and industry bodies have broadly welcomed the reforms. The Minister for Care emphasised that the changes put patients first while supporting NHS dentists and improving the long-term sustainability of the profession. Clinical and professional leaders highlighted the importance of recognising the wider dental team, improving access to urgent and preventative care, and strengthening prevention for children. Industry groups have welcomed progress on fairer funding for complex care, while continuing to stress the need to address ongoing workforce shortages.

Consultation Outcomes and Next Steps

The public consultation ran for six weeks between July and August 2025 and received 2,289 responses. Over half of respondents agreed that the proposals would improve the NHS dental contract and help practices prioritise patients with the greatest need. The reforms will require legislative amendments, which the government plans to introduce from April 2026. NHS England will work alongside integrated care boards and clinical experts to publish detailed implementation guidance ahead of rollout.

Looking Ahead

These reforms represent the first step toward rebuilding NHS dentistry after more than a decade of decline. By embedding urgent care, prioritising complex treatment, strengthening prevention, and supporting the dental workforce, the government aims to restore patient confidence and create a more resilient, patient-centred dental system.