The number of dental care professionals (DCPs) on the UK register has expanded to its largest size in recent years – but one role has seen a consistent drop since 2023.
Following the annual renewal period, more than 80,650 DCPs are now registered across the UK – marking a rise of 4,764 professionals (6.26%) compared to the equivalent figure for 2024.
Dental nurses remain by far the largest group, increasing from 59,238 in 2023 to 65,797 in 2025, a rise of more than 6,500 in just two years.
The number of registered dental therapists has also increased, rising by almost 2,000 since 2023 – a significant 52% increase.
Dental technicians are the only role where numbers have declined, dropping from 5,023 in 2023 to 4,895 in 2025. Clinical dental technicians, however, have seen modest growth from 404 in 2023 to 439 in 2025.
How many DCPs are registered in 2025?
The total number of DCPs on the register as of 11 August 2025 were:
| Professional title | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Clinical dental technician | 404 | 423 | 439 |
| Dental hygienist | 9,177 | 10,055 | 11,065 |
| Dental nurse | 59,238 | 62,364 | 65,797 |
| Dental technician | 5,023 | 4,935 | 4,895 |
| Dental therapist | 5,558 | 6,787 | 8,459 |
| Orthodontic therapist | 957 | 1,093 | 1,257 |
This year, 3,312 DCPs did not renew their registration, equivalent to 4.1% of those who had renewed their registration by 31 July. This compares to an average of 5.5% over the previous four years.
Statistics show that the total number of professional titles removed was slightly higher than last year at 3,455, compared to 3,381 in 2024.
The GDC report reads: ‘While the register is constantly changing, what we invariably see (for both the dentist and DCP registers) is that over the course of the year, the number of registered professionals increases due to new registrations, and then reduces following the renewal period as professionals leave the register for a range of reasons.’
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