The Government is to offer hundreds of dentists a one-off payment of up to £20,000 to work in “dental deserts” in a bid to tackle backlogs of appointments at NHS surgeries across the country.
An NHS England “recovery plan” announced on Wednesday will see 240 dentists – around 1 per cent of the workforce – receive payments to work for up to three years in areas dubbed “dental deserts” due to a shortage of appointment.
Under the £200m funding plans, dentists will also be offered a ‘new patient’ payment of between £15-50, depending on the treatment, needed to treat around one million people who have not seen an NHS dentist for two or more years.
It comes after police were called to intervene when hundreds of people queued to sign up for one new dental practice in Bristolwith less than 1 per cent of NHS dental practices in the South West of England accepting young adult patients.
How much does an NHS dentist earn?
Salaried dentists employed by the NHS can earn a basic salary of between £47,653 and £101,923, according to the health service careers Website.
The average salary of NHS dentists is £74,788, according to Dentistry.
From 2022-23 There were just over 24,000 active NHS dentists in England, although the health service says most dentists are self-employed.
Salaries for NHS-employed dentists will vary depending on factors such as stage of training and years of experience, with NHS pay reviewed annually by the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body.
For new entrant dentists undertaking a year’s dental foundation training, the annual salary is £36,288 from April 2022. This is just below the threshold for NHS-employed salaried dentists working in community dental services.
This is between £43,923 and £55,329 for those who then enter basic dental training, with additional pay for each time worked in excess of 40 hours per week.
There is also a 37 per cent “increase” in pay for night shifts, as well as allowances for weekend work or on-call availability.
Dental trainees, meanwhile, earn a basic salary of between £55,329 and £63,152 and can earn more depending on whether they qualify for different “they pay premiums” based on their specialty.
Consultants in dental specialties have the same pay scales as other NHS hospital consultants, earning a basic salary of between £93,666 and £126,281.
How much do NHS dentists charge?
While some people do not have to pay for NHS dental care, in England those who do will fall into one of three NHS dental charging zones based on level of care required.
Band 1 – £25.80
This covers examination, diagnosis and advice, as well as x-rays, scaling, polishing and planning further treatment – if any of the latter is clinically necessary. It also covers any urgent care, which can usually be done in one appointment and includes pain relief or temporary fillings.
Band 2 – £70.70
This covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional services such as fillings, root canal treatment and tooth extractions.
Band 3 – £306.80
This covers all treatments included in the other two charge zones, as well as more complex procedures such as crowns, bridges, mouthguards and dentures.
A similar zoning system is in place Waleswith charges of £14.70, £47 or £203, while dentists in Northern Ireland and Scotland can charge NHS patients up to 80 per cent of the dentist’s fee up to a maximum of £384.
Additional treatment
You will not be required to pay additional charges for treatment from the same or lower charge band within two calendar months of completing a previous course of treatment, but any additional treatment from a higher band would require payment of the relevant charge.
After two months, any NHS dental treatment will be charged based on the relevant band.
Fillings, root fillings, inlays, porcelain veneers and crowns are all guaranteed for 12 months from the date of completion. This includes if they are lost.
If you agree to be referred to another dentist, you should be told by your doctor how much you will have to pay, including your referral to a private dentist.
When no payment is required
If you fall into any of the categories below, you are with Title for free NHS dental treatment in England:
- Under 18
- Under 19 and in full education
- Pregnant or had a baby in the previous 12 months
- Treatment is in an NHS hospital and treatment is carried out by the hospital dentist
- Receiving certain low-income benefits
- Under 20 and a dependent of a person receiving low income benefits
Otherwise, there are no dental fees for patients who need dentures repaired or stitches removed, and you won’t have to pay if your dentist needs to stop blood loss or if they only need to write a prescription – although the prescriptions themselves will usually be reimbursed £9.56.
You can check online if you are entitled to free treatment on the NHS, as well as apply online to get help with NHS costs.
Everyone in Scotland is entitled to free NHS dental examinations (including review examinations). Dental treatment in Scotland is free if you are:
- Age under 26?
- Pregnant or has given birth in the last 12 months.
- Have a certified exemption from patient charges due to low income or receipt of certain benefits.
How to become a dentist
Becoming a dentist in the UK involves completing a degree at medical school followed by foundation, core and specialty training.
To gain a place on an undergraduate dental course, top grades at A-level or equivalent secondary school courses in subjects such as biology and chemistry are usually required.
After completing a dental course at university, which usually lasts five years and leads to a degree, the next step to becoming a dentist is to register with the General Dental Council and complete a year of training at a dental institution.
Dentists can then either choose to work in a dental practice or enter dental core training.
The latter usually lasts another year or up to three years, with the option to continue working in general practice or further specialize in a particular area of dentistry.
Dental specialty training it can last anywhere from three to five years after basic training, depending on the specialty.
