The UK’s ongoing struggle to maintain access to dental care has taken a new turn after government plans to increase the number of overseas-trained dentists allowed to work in Britain were criticised as a “quick fix” rather than a long-term solution.
Ministers say the move could help tackle the shortage of NHS dental appointments across England. But industry leaders warn that simply expanding exam capacity will not solve deeper problems affecting dentists, dental assistants and medical receptionists working across the system.
Government plans to expand overseas dentist exams
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that it intends to dramatically expand the number of exam places available for overseas-trained dentists who wish to practise in the UK.
At present, thousands of qualified dentists from abroad are waiting to sit professional exams that would allow them to register and work in the UK.
Under the new plans:
- Places on the Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) exam will increase from 180 to 1,800 by 2028
- The Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) clinical component run by the General Dental Council will also expand
- Officials estimate more than 1,000 additional dentists could join the UK register by 2028–29
The intention is to ease workforce shortages and improve access to appointments, particularly for patients struggling to find NHS dental care.
The announcement comes as demand for dental treatment continues to grow, with many patients reporting long waits for routine check-ups or turning to private practices due to limited NHS availability.
Concerns from the dental profession
However, the British Dental Association (BDA) has raised serious concerns about the policy.
BDA chair Eddie Crouch said the scale of the changes could lead to a situation where more dentists arrive from overseas than graduate from UK dental schools.
He warned that increasing exam capacity without addressing the structure of NHS dentistry risks missing the root cause of the crisis.
According to the BDA, the real challenge lies in an underfunded NHS dental system that struggles to retain professionals already working within it.
For many dentists, dental assistants and reception staff, the pressure of high demand, limited appointment funding and administrative workload continues to shape day-to-day working conditions.
“Low-hanging fruit” or structural reform?
Others within the dental sector see the move differently.
Neil Carmichael, executive chair of the Association of Dental Groups, described the expansion as a practical step that could help increase the number of dentists entering the workforce.
He suggested that unlocking the backlog of qualified overseas dentists waiting to practise in the UK represents a relatively straightforward solution while broader reforms are considered.
For workers across dental practices, the debate reflects a wider challenge: balancing immediate workforce shortages with the need for sustainable long-term planning.
Access to dentists still a major issue for UK workers
The announcement follows recent reports highlighting the growing difficulty many people face in securing dental appointments.
Recent findings suggest:
- Almost one third of people in England now rely on private dentists
- Some patients are going years without routine check-ups
- Others have reported resorting to DIY dentistry due to lack of access
For working families, the issue is particularly pressing. Oral health can affect everything from general wellbeing to employability, making reliable access to dentists an important part of public health infrastructure.
Dental assistants and medical receptionists are also feeling the pressure as demand rises and appointment schedules become increasingly stretched.
Dentist salaries in the UK
Pay for dentists in the UK can vary significantly depending on experience, training and whether work is carried out privately or within NHS contracts.
Many dentists combine both private and NHS work, meaning earnings can vary widely across the profession.
NHS dentist pay scales in England
| Role / Stage | Typical Annual Salary |
| Dental foundation trainee | £38,472 |
| Newly qualified dentist | Around £53,000 |
| Experienced dentist | Up to £112,000+ |
| Self-employed dentists (mixed NHS/private) | Varies widely depending on workload |
Because many dentists operate as self-employed practitioners, income levels often depend on patient demand, contract arrangements and the proportion of private work undertaken.
The wider workforce picture
The conversation around dentists cannot be separated from the wider dental workforce.
Dental assistants, hygienists, technicians and medical receptionists play a critical role in keeping practices operating efficiently. Workforce shortages across these roles can also affect how many patients a practice can realistically treat each day.
For UK workers seeking treatment, the challenge remains clear: ensuring that dental services are accessible, sustainable and properly staffed.
The road ahead for UK dental services
While expanding exam access may bring more overseas dentists into the system, the debate now centres on whether deeper structural changes are required.
For many within the profession, the question is simple: will these changes improve access for patients and working conditions for dental teams, or simply delay a larger reform of the NHS dental model?
For UK workers struggling to secure appointments, the answer cannot come soon enough.
