Dental policy and government

Disallowed dental prescriptions leave pharmacies £50,000 out of pocket

New figures show 5,274 items prescribed by NHS dentists were disallowed in one year, leaving pharmacies an estimated £50,000 out…

Dentistry

DHSC to consult on dental hygienist and therapist independent prescribing rights

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has opened discussions on prescribing rights for dental hygienists and therapists with…

Dentistry

BDA rejects incremental ADG reform call amid NHS dentistry crisis

The British Dental Association (BDA) slapped down calls from the Association of Dental Groups (ADG) for incremental NHS dental contract…

Dentistry

Who is responsible when your AI tools make mistakes?

A parliamentary report on potential human rights issues posed by artificial intelligence (AI) has criticised the freedom for tech developers…

AI & technology

The NHS unscheduled care blind spot: where the reporting risks lie

Ian Gordon examines the reporting, remuneration and contract-management risks created by the April 2026 NHS unscheduled care reforms. The intention…

NHS in crisis

Skilled Worker visas and UK dentistry – what has changed one year on?

A year after the government raised the skill threshold for the Skilled Worker visa, the effect on UK dentistry is…

Dentistry

What comes next for NHS dentistry in Wales? Understanding your options

With the updated NHS dental contract in Wales approaching its six-month mark, Louise Anderson explains how clinicians have turned to…

NHS to Private

The real problem with NHS dentistry… and why it’s not money

Neel Kothari explains why administrative burnout and a lack of clinical support, not funding, are the real reasons dentists are…

Columnists

Dental therapists (not) prescribing: competence vs hierarchy

Alicja Zajac examines whether regulations surrounding dental therapist prescribing rights are proportionate, evidence-based and consistent with the principles of equality.…

Dentistry

James Frith appointed as dental minister: here’s everything you need to know

Three weeks into Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s term, the government has announced that James Frith will take on responsibility for…

Breaking news

Dental experts celebrate energy drink ban as official timeline set

The government has confirmed that new laws banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s will come into force…

Dentistry

From celebration to change: Vaisakhi in Parliament

Simran Bains reflects on the 19th annual Vaisakhi celebrations in Parliament and explains why faith leaders and healthcare professionals must…

Dentistry

Experts slam cuts to ‘vital’ dental public health roles

Experts have warned that cuts to dental public health roles could weaken prevention work in some of England’s most deprived…

Dentistry

NHS Modernisation Bill: patient records to be centralised across health and care services

A single patient record will avoid people having to repeat dental and medical information to different NHS providers under the…

Dentistry

Funding increase for Northern Irish dentistry deemed ‘insufficient’ as full £8m package confirmed

While dental experts acknowledged the ‘significant efforts’ of the health minister in securing a funding increase, they also stressed that…

Dentistry

Pay uplift for NHS dentists will have ‘real consequences’, experts warn

The government has confirmed a pay uplift for NHS dentists – though key figures in dentistry say the changes ‘radically…

Dentistry

CMA calls for dentist input to private dentistry inquiry

A review of the private dentistry sector has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ‘make sure…

Breaking news

What do changes to the 700,000 appointment pledge mean for dentistry?

Ian Gordon considers the impact of recent changes to the government’s pledge to provide 700,000 extra dental appointments – are…

Dentistry

How will proposed student loan changes affect dental graduates?

Prime minister Keir Starmer has pledged to make the student loan system ‘fairer’, but what does this mean for the…

Dentistry