Changes To NHS Dental Contracts: What Dentists In Wales Need To Know
JCP Solicitors’ Healthcare team, led by Director Rhianydd Llewellyn-Thomas, advises dental practices across Wales to manage transactions, refinancing, business incorporations, partnership agreements, and shareholder agreements. Rhianydd explains Welsh Government’s recent announcement for changes to NHS dental contracts, and what these mean for dentists in Wales.
In autumn 2025, Welsh Government announced a new dental contract for Wales, which will come into force in April 2026. The changes are designed to “improve access to NHS dentistry for everyone as health needs and prevention are put at the heart of the new system.”
Under the current NHS dental contracts, dentists are paid to recall patients every 6 months regardless of whether or not the patient presented any problems.
The initial proposals announced in Spring 2025 would have seen the creation of a central “access portal” through which patients would be scheduled an appointment with the next available dentist within their local health board – not necessarily their familiar practice.
As a member of NASDAL (the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers), JCP played an active role in the public consultation and were involved in extensive discussions with Welsh Government regarding these proposals, which were ultimately withdrawn.
The confirmed changes will instead focus on the oral health of individuals and the prevention of problems. This means that individuals who require more treatment will be seen more regularly, while those deemed to have ‘good’ oral health will be recalled every 18 – 24 months. Dentists will determine the patients’ oral health on an individual basis.
What is more, following consultation, the cost of NHS treatments will be reduced from the initial proposal. NHS patients who pay for their treatment will now pay 50% of the total cost, capped at a maximum of £384 per treatment. The low-income scheme will also continue providing help with costs for individuals in need.
For dentists, the NHS will pay practices an increased rate: £150 per appointment, up from £135 on the original proposal.
Practices will also receive a set amount for ongoing support for patients deemed to have good oral health, rather than being paid per appointment.
Overall, it is hoped that these reforms will improve affordability for patients and support dentists to provide high-quality, needs-based care.
If you have questions about how the dental reforms will impact your practice, JCP Solicitors can help. Contact Director and Head of Healthcare, Rhianydd Llewellyn-Thomas, by emailing rhianydd.llewellyn-thomas@jcpsolicitors.co.uk or call 02920 379571.