Dental surgeons respond to government plans for dental contract reforms
16 Dec 2025
Responding to the Government's plans for NHS dental contract reforms, Dr Charlotte Eckhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) said:
“FDS welcomes the government’s focus on prioritising patients with the most urgent and complex needs, strengthening prevention in children’s oral health, and supporting better use of the wider dental team.
“However, these interim changes cannot be considered as a long-term solution to the deepening workforce and access crisis in NHS dentistry. Without meaningful new investment and fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract, the current financial envelope and contractual framework will remain insufficient to deliver sustainable improvements in patient access.
“Effective use of the wider dental team requires robust training, governance, and appropriate funding. Any extension of care pathways for children must be carefully assessed to ensure it supports prevention, safeguards families, and does not undermine access to routine care.
“FDS looks forward to engaging with phase three of the government’s reform process. This next stage must set out a clear, fully-funded roadmap for long-term contract reform, workforce sustainability, and improved access to NHS dental care – ensuring today’s interim steps are the beginning, not the end, of meaningful change.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The government has published its response to the consultation on the NHS dentistry contract: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms
2. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.
3. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.
“FDS welcomes the government’s focus on prioritising patients with the most urgent and complex needs, strengthening prevention in children’s oral health, and supporting better use of the wider dental team.
“However, these interim changes cannot be considered as a long-term solution to the deepening workforce and access crisis in NHS dentistry. Without meaningful new investment and fundamental reform of the NHS dental contract, the current financial envelope and contractual framework will remain insufficient to deliver sustainable improvements in patient access.
“Effective use of the wider dental team requires robust training, governance, and appropriate funding. Any extension of care pathways for children must be carefully assessed to ensure it supports prevention, safeguards families, and does not undermine access to routine care.
“FDS looks forward to engaging with phase three of the government’s reform process. This next stage must set out a clear, fully-funded roadmap for long-term contract reform, workforce sustainability, and improved access to NHS dental care – ensuring today’s interim steps are the beginning, not the end, of meaningful change.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The government has published its response to the consultation on the NHS dentistry contract: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms
2. The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling dentists and specialists to provide patients with the highest possible standards of practice and care.
3. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.