How are dental therapists paid? Four key models

Cat Edney explores four key remuneration models for how dental therapists can be paid across both NHS and private dentistry.

The question of how dental therapists are paid is one that comes up often – and with the expansion of direct access, therapy-led care, and the evolution of the therapist’s role in practice, it’s becoming more relevant than ever.

This month I want to explore some of the various ways therapists might be remunerated, from traditional hourly rates through to percentage-based models that mirror the structures used for associate dentists. Each route has its nuances, benefits, and things to be aware of – particularly when navigating self-employment and the expectations of working within a modern dental team.

Self-employed on a percentage basis