The NHS dental contract is set to change from April 2026, with reforms expected to place a stronger focus on prevention, early intervention and improving children’s oral health.
For dental practices, these upcoming changes highlight the importance of preparing teams for a more prevention-focused approach to patient care.
Key changes expected from April 2026 include:
- Greater focus on preventative care, helping reduce tooth decay and gum disease through earlier intervention.
- Expanded role for dental nurses, including applying fluoride varnish to children under prescription between appointments.
- New incentives for urgent and complex care, including higher payments for urgent treatments to improve patient access.
- National initiatives to improve children’s oral health, including supervised toothbrushing programmes for young children.
- Changes to treatment pathways and payments, designed to better reflect patient needs and treatment complexity.
Alongside these changes, national programmes aimed at improving children’s oral health are already being introduced, encouraging earlier intervention and better long-term dental habits.
For practices, this is an opportunity to review skills across the dental team and ensure staff are prepared for the evolving landscape of NHS dentistry.
Training and professional development can help dental teams adapt to these changes.
To read more about the upcoming NHS dental reforms, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-boost-for-millions-of-nhs-dental-patients
Take a look at our Dental courses here.
