Changes are coming for NHS dentistry in England
7 January 2026
On Tuesday, 16th December, the government announced its intention to proceed with all the major proposals consulted on. The press release highlights that they will move ahead with:
Mandated urgent care provision
New long-term treatment pathways for multiple tooth decay and progressive gum disease.
Expanded use of dental nurses for fluoride varnish and improved remuneration for fissure sealants
Enhanced learning and development opportunities for dental teams
The press release also confirms that these changes will require legislative amendments, which the government does not plan to introduce until April 2026. This means there will be no immediate shifts for practices and no changes expected in early 2026.
Our response
We welcome today's announcement as a meaningful step in the right direction. Making it easier for patients in severe pain to access urgent appointments is important, and it is encouraging to see the government recognise the financial pressure practices are under when providing NHS care, especially for more complex cases.
But we mustn’t lose sight of the role of prevention within oral healthcare. We know, from listening to our members delivering both NHS and private care, and to the patients they support, that while urgent care is often the most visible pressure point, the long-term impact comes from missed routine care. Oral health in England will see the improvements needed when patients can access the everyday support that prevents emergencies in the first place: regular check-ups, early intervention and strong preventive care.
While the government’s focus on supervised toothbrushing and expanded use of the wider dental team to deliver fluoride varnishes and fissure sealant is a helpful starting point, the future of dentistry will only be possible when urgent care and preventative care are equally balanced. Our Future of Dentistry white paper highlights that the next phase of reform must recognise that most practices deliver both NHS and private care, and that flexible commissioning and funding models will be essential to supporting the full range of care patients depend on. We look forward to continuing to work with the government as this next stage of reform takes shape.