Dr Peter Prinsley MP
Member of Parliament for Bury St EdmundsWhen I first described the UK’s dental crisis as a “political emergency”, it wasn’t for dramatic effect. As an ENT surgeon, I’ve seen children hospitalised with abscesses from untreated tooth decay – conditions that were once rare, now alarmingly routine. During my election campaign to become the Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds, I met countless people unable to access basic dental care, despite being entitled to it on the NHS.
But for the first time in years, I believe we are beginning to turn a corner.
This Government has acknowledged the problem – and crucially, it is starting to act. The Dental Recovery Plan, the 700,000 new urgent appointments, and new commissioning flexibilities for integrated care boards (ICBs) all represent a serious attempt to grapple with decades of drift. Ministers have rightly recognised that the crisis in NHS dentistry is not just clinical, but systemic.
However, the scale of the challenge demands we go further.
At a recent parliamentary roundtable I hosted, in partnership with Curia and the Association of Dental Groups, we brought together clinicians, commissioners, providers, and regulators to understand what’s working – and where the blockages remain. What we heard was clear: there are already solutions on the table. Pilots in places like Sussex and South Cumbria are showing how flexible commissioning can unlock access and stabilisation services. What we now need is national consistency, political drive, and meaningful support to scale these innovations.
One recurring message was the need to revisit the core structure of the NHS dental contract. The current Unit of Dental Activity (UDA) system, with its variable rates and rigid delivery caps, continues to disincentivise NHS work – particularly for younger dentists. Department of Health and Social Care analysis shows that there is a direct correlation between UDA values over £30 and increased NHS delivery: a minimum UDA value of £35 could prompt a real shift of workforce from private to NHS care. The Government’s willingness to look at these numbers – and to pilot new contract models – is a step in the right direction.
But reforming the contract alone won’t solve the workforce shortage. We must expand the number of dental school places, support training institutions like Portsmouth Dental Academy and remove the red tape preventing qualified overseas dentists from practising in the UK. The recent expansion of places on the Overseas Registration Exam is welcome, but progress must now accelerate; 6,000 highly qualified international dentists are still waiting to get access to the exam, many of whom are already in the UK.
I was also encouraged to hear support from ministers for a greater emphasis on prevention. Simple,
evidence-based interventions – like supervised toothbrushing in schools, stabilisation pathways, and
skill-mix models involving dental nurses and therapists – can make a major difference. If we’re serious
about building a sustainable, efficient NHS, we must invest in keeping people well, not just treating
them once problems escalate.
Finally, we must be honest with the public. What we need is a clear, fair offer that prioritises the most
vulnerable and reflects the workforce and budget we have. As MPs, we must lead that conversation and ensure the public understands both the challenges and the progress being made.
The message from the roundtable was clear: the Government has begun to grasp the nettle. Now, it must pull through – backing up ambition with funding, clarity, and a willingness to reform. NHS dentistry can be saved. But it will take courage, co-operation, and commitment from all sides.
I believe that moment is upon us. Let’s seize it.
Read the full report from Curia’s dentistry roundtable here. The report is free for the public sector, Registered charities, UKAI members and cubscribers of Curia’s Health, Care, and Life Sciences Research Group.
To find out more about UKAI and Curia memberships, please contact Ben McDermott, ben.mcdermott@chamberuk.com
