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To attract new NHS dentists and improve access to care in areas with the highest demand, around 240 dentists will be offered one-time payments of up to £20,000 for working in under-served areas for up to three years.
NHS work will also be made more attractive to dental teams with the minimum value of activity increasing to £28, from £23.
However, the British Dental Association (BDA) said that the £200m pledged by the government was less than half of the underspends in the budget expected in 2024, leaving no new money for the new patient premium.
Shawn Charlwood, the chair of the BDA’s general dental practice committee, said: “This ‘recovery plan’ is not worthy of the title.
“It won’t halt the exodus from the workforce or offer hope to millions struggling to access care. Nothing here meets government’s stated ambitions, or makes this service fit for the future.
“Ministers wanted to stop dentistry becoming an election issue. By rearranging the deckchairs they’ve achieved the exact opposite.
“The crisis will remain a burning issue in communities across this country until we get real change.”
