Questions have been asked about whether the trend of NHS dental practices converting to private dental practices during 2023 will continue.

It has become apparent that ‘There’s been a massive spike in the number of practices making the jump completely from NHS into independent dentistry’. Experiences also seem to be similar in the south of the country as well as the north, according to this interview.

Recruitment and retention are also reportedly difficult for dental nurses as well as hygienists, let alone for dentists. The experience is different in Wales, where contractual reforms are occurring more frequently, but in other parts of the UK more dentists are feeling forced to switch to private dental care.

Costs are rising faster than contract values for NHS dental teams, with many practices wanting to hand back their NHS contracts to pursue private ventures. Many have felt the urge to do so to prevent their businesses from going under altogether.

My two penneth

The article shared is, unfortunately, penned in conjunction with a service that helps practices to transition smoothly from NHS to private practices. Therefore, it seems to revel in the fact that such a transition is occurring at speed, and concludes that the same is set to carry on into 2024.

It does point out the alarming nature of the current business model for NHS dentists, though, as it makes it clear that something is extremely wrong with the current state of affairs.

If serious consideration isn’t put into the state of affordable dental care in the current day, then it is entirely reasonable to assume that in ten years from now or maybe even sooner, NHS dental care may have structurally toppled into nationwide private dental care by default. An alarming thought for millions of potential patients.