Written question asked by Anne Marie Morris (Independent (affiliation)) on Thursday, 31 March 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 (named day). It was answered by Maria Caulfield (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dentistry: Vacancies

Question: Whether his Department plans to take further steps to tackle the shortage of NHS dentists.

Answer: We are working with the British Dental Association to reform the NHS dental contract to make it more attractive to the profession. Health Education England set out a range of recommendations in their Advancing Dental Care Review, which will improve recruitment and retention of dentists and other professionals. Action is being taken to implement these through their Dental Education Reform Programme. We are also working to allow greater flexibility to expand on the registration options open to international dentistry applicants.

Secondary information