How NHS dentistry works now

What this lesson covers

Who pays, who buys, who delivers
The contract: paid in units of activity
Mixed practice: NHS and private together
Beyond the high street
What changed, and when
How this comes up on the day

The words to use

Integrated care board (ICB): The NHS body that plans and buys health services for an area of England. ICBs have commissioned NHS dentistry since 1 April 2023.
Unit of dental activity (UDA): The currency of England's 2006 contract. A check-up course earns 1 UDA and a crown or denture course 12; each contract sets its own UDA value.
Associate: A dentist who treats NHS patients in someone else's practice without holding the NHS contract. Associates were 83% of NHS dentists in 2025/26.
Mixed practice: A practice offering NHS and private care side by side. Most practices work this way, and dentists choose their own mix.
Community dental services: Salaried NHS teams caring for people with more complex needs who don't need hospital treatment, such as housebound people or those with severe disabilities.

This lesson opens on 29 November

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The words to use

Integrated care board (ICB)

The NHS body that plans and buys health services for an area of England. ICBs have commissioned NHS dentistry since 1 April 2023.

Unit of dental activity (UDA)

The currency of England's 2006 contract. A check-up course earns 1 UDA and a crown or denture course 12; each contract sets its own UDA value.

Associate

A dentist who treats NHS patients in someone else's practice without holding the NHS contract. Associates were 83% of NHS dentists in 2025/26.

Mixed practice

A practice offering NHS and private care side by side. Most practices work this way, and dentists choose their own mix.

Community dental services

Salaried NHS teams caring for people with more complex needs who don't need hospital treatment, such as housebound people or those with severe disabilities.