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Key insights from our webinar

How policy, regulation, and patient expectations are reshaping the dental sector

21 July 2026

Written by Matthew Nolan, Head Dental Officer, Denplan

There has rarely been a more important time to understand the direction of travel for dentistry. Fundamental NHS dental contract reform, the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) review of private dentistry, and changes to professional regulation all have the potential to reshape how dental care is delivered.

The appointment of Andy Burnham and a new ministerial team may create a short period while ministers familiarise themselves with the existing programme of dental reform. While this could affect the pace of change in the short term, the underlying challenges facing the sector, such as patient access, workforce sustainability and contract reform, will still require Government attention.

To explore what these developments could mean for practices, I recently had the pleasure of chairing a panel discussion with:

Professor Rebecca Harris, Honorary Consultant of Dental Public Health at Liverpool University and Senior Clinical Advisor for Dental Contract Reform Strategy at the DHSC
Dave Gallagher, former Chief Contracting and Procurement Officer at NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB
Dr Raj Dhami, Principal Dentist, Denplan Practice Advisor, and Clinical Advisor at NHS England, to explore what these changes mean for dental practices.

Here are my four key takeaways from the discussion.

1. Fundamental reform must start by defining what NHS dentistry is expected to provide

One of the strongest themes to emerge from the discussion was the need for greater clarity about what NHS dentistry is expected to provide.

For many years, policy discussions have focused primarily on increasing activity and improving access. While these remain priorities, there is growing recognition that future reform must also address what NHS dentistry is realistically expected to deliver within the resources available.

Drawing on his experience as a practice owner, Raj Dhami argued that greater clarity is needed around the scope of NHS dentistry if practices are to remain financially sustainable. Dave Gallagher similarly reflected on the need for a simpler contract that clearly defines what commissioners are purchasing and what practices are expected to deliver.

2. Mixed practices could become central to the future of NHS dentistry

There was recognition that private and NHS dentistry should not be viewed as competing systems, with the panel reflecting that private care increasingly underpins the sustainability of practices that also provide NHS services, something that many Denplan members experience every day.

The important point was made that private dentistry should no longer be viewed as an alternative to NHS dentistry, but as an essential component of a sustainable mixed practice model. Private income allows practices to continue investing in their workforce, equipment, and facilities while maintaining NHS provision for patients who rely on it.

As Denplan continues engaging with government, we will continue to ensure that policymakers understand the role mixed practices play in supporting patient access, rather than viewing private provision in isolation of the entire dental system.

3. The focus on prevention is creating new opportunities for dental teams to demonstrate their value within the wider health system

The panel discussed how dental practices could play a greater role within neighbourhood health services, prevention, and wider public health initiatives.

Examples included smoking cessation, behaviour change interventions, and Making Every Contact Count, which is an approach that encourages healthcare professionals to use everyday patient interactions to provide brief health and wellbeing advice. This recognises the unique position dental teams have through their long-term relationships with patients. Professor Rebecca Harris also shared findings from a government-funded study demonstrating how trained dental nurses can successfully deliver behaviour change interventions that improve both oral and wider health outcomes.

Prevention and neighbourhood healthcare now sit at the heart of the government's long-term plans for the NHS. While it’s yet to be seen to what extent dentistry will be formally included within these plans, they provide a timely reminder that the wider preventative role of dental teams should not be overlooked.

4. Financial sustainability remains the profession's biggest concern

In our polling of the audience, three-quarters of respondents identified rising operational costs as the single greatest challenge, while staffing and equipment costs emerged as the most significant contributors.

The panel discussion moved beyond simply acknowledging these pressures. Instead, speakers highlighted the importance of creating financially sustainable practices that can continue investing in training and development, delivering high-quality care and adapting to future reform.

Raj shared an observation from his own practice, explaining that reducing clinician workload had ultimately improved productivity, staff wellbeing, and business performance. It served as a reminder for us all that achieving financial sustainability is about more than just balancing the books, it creates the conditions for practices to invest in their teams, embrace change and continue delivering high-quality care.

Against this backdrop, more than 70% of attendees felt that dentistry does not currently receive sufficient focus within government health policy to deliver meaningful national improvements. This perhaps reflects that, while dentistry continues to attract political attention, the pace and scale of reform have yet to address the practical challenges practices face every day. As policymakers continue to focus on improving patient access, ensuring practices are financially sustainable will remain fundamental to securing the long-term future of the profession.

Looking ahead

At Denplan, we'll continue bringing together the experiences of our members and sharing them with policymakers, regulators and the wider profession to help shape policy, support thriving practices and contribute to the future of dentistry.