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Transforming dentistry for the long-term

The Association of Dental Groups chairs Parliamentary roundtable

15 May 2025 (Last updated: 18 Jun 2025 10:51)

On 13th May in Westminster, the Association of Dental Group’s (ADG) Executive Chair, Neil Carmichael led a Parliamentary roundtable with the aim of delivering recommendations for driving down inequalities and solving the dental workforce crisis.

Key stakeholders, including policymakers and healthcare professionals, met to discuss and debate the steps needed to transform dentistry. The Parliamentary roundtable focused on improving dentistry now and in the long term, to address access to services, especially urgent care, with a particular emphasis on increasing the dental workforce and reforming the NHS dental contract in England.

Chaired by the Association of Dental Group’s (ADG) Executive Chair, Neil Carmichael, and hosted by Dr Peter Prinsley, MP , the roundtable’s main issue for discussion was patient access to a dentist. We know that the gap in the dental workforce is significant. There are currently over 3,000 unfilled vacancies for dentists across the NHS and private sectors. Data published by NHS England for the period to March 2024, show there were 2,749 full-time equivalent (FTE basis) NHS dentist vacancies, with 411 (FTE basis) vacancies in private practices still open.

Whilst, the ADG-chaired roundtable also talked about the need for NHS contract reform and increasing Units of Dental Activity (UDA) payments, it is clear that irrespective of the need for contract reform, there is a system-wide shortage of dentists in the UK across the profession’s ‘mixed-economy’. 

Neil Carmichael reminded attendees that less than 1% of dentists are looking for work. Data released by the GDC on dentists’ working patterns, reports that just 0.8 percent (241) of the 30,066 who completed their questionnaire said they were actively seeking work as a dentist. This is not good news when it comes to filling the current 3,000+ dentist vacancies.

Discussions included improving the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) system, how Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) need to be more flexible in their commissioning powers and improving workforce planning by recognising the skills mix across the full dental team - as well as supporting dental school development. Members also emphasised the need for an approach that incentivised a prevention approach. 

Neil Carmichael, Executive Chair, Association of Dental Groups said: “Hearing from the General Dental Council during the roundtable, that there are currently approximately 6,000 fully-trained overseas dentists already in the UK who are on the waiting list to get through the ‘bottle-neck’ of the Overseas Registration Examination system should be a priority.  Currently each ORE sitting only has capacity for 600 students.  At that rate, it will take years to get them qualified!  

Valuable input from ADG members highlighted how a ‘Provisional Registration’, similar to the system available to overseas doctors arriving in the UK could also be an immediate and impactful step. We look forward to seeing the post-roundtable briefing paper with an implementation plan for ministers. Solutions must include rapid expansion of the workforce.” 

 

For further information contact: ADG Director of Communications,

Kate Clark | kate@kateclarkpr.co.uk | kate.clark@theadg.co.uk | 07990 525639

Notes to editors:

About ADG:

  • The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) is the trade association for groups of dental health and care practices and organisations working with and on behalf of members, representing their view and progressing improvements in the working environment for groups of dental providers of oral health care.
  • The ADG has 28 members including some of the largest groups of dental practices in the country, but the Association also represents smaller providers with fewer than 5 practices. Of the 2,000 practices which members operate, approximately 1,800 are in England with the balance spread across the devolved nations. 
  • Across ADG’s members there are approximately 10,000 clinicians delivering NHS, community and private dentistry to more than 10 million patients every year. 
  • ADG members adopt and share best practice to enable their peers to deliver the highest quality service to patients. 
  • The leadership of ADG members are often experienced dentists themselves, with involvement in professional and vocational training, enabling them to provide expertise as trainers and advisers. 
  • Areas of focus include working on sector improvements for dental groups, including sharing consistent best practice, supporting innovation, and encouraging the investment and skills development of all dental professionals. The ADG aims to do this by shaping policy, raising awareness and influencing key stakeholders. 
  • The ADG is involved in policy development, encouraging policy makers to make evidence-based decisions.  
  • The ADG takes a solutions-focused approach to create the most supportive environment for dental groups where teams feel valued and are able to provide the highest quality dental care for patients. 
  • The ADG supports, promotes and encourages a prevention approach to improve oral health. 
  • Workforce support includes campaigning for more dentists to be trained in the UK, identifying key strategies to improve recruitment and the retention of dental professionals from the UK and abroad, including streamlining onboarding processes. 
  • The ADG works with key stakeholders to contribute to undergraduate, foundation and DCP training and provide opportunities to create a learning and supportive environment for dental teams. 
  • When it comes to commissioning, the ADG influences in key areas to ensure both private and NHS dentistry are developed in a financially sustainable way. 
  • The ADG’s strategic objectives are:
    1. Developing an agile, inclusive, and professional workforce across dentistry. 
    2. Fighting for fair access to quality NHS Dentistry. 
    3. Supporting the work of private dentistry. 
    4. Promoting the work of dental groups in public, private, and community operations. 
    5. Shaping public policy to improve oral health in the United.

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