New dental contract to expand after successful pilot reduces tooth decay

Up to 50 practices will be selected to join the 73 currently testing the new contract which incentivises dentists to offer comprehensive oral health assessments and self-care plans. The scheme could be rolled out nationally from April 2020 if approach can be shown to benefit patients, the NHS and dental practices.

Children and adults have been empowered to take better care of their teeth after a number of dental surgeries across England adopted a new prevention-focused approach to oral hygiene.

More than 70 high street dental practices saw a reduction in tooth decay after testing the new approach which incentivises dentists to offer patients comprehensive oral health assessments and self-care plans on top of traditional treatments.

In the first year of piloting the new system, dentists reported that 90 per cent of patients had reduced or maintained levels of tooth decay, 80 per cent had reduced or maintained levels of gum disease and 97 per cent of patients said they were satisfied with the dental care they received.