BRITISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION

We bring dentists

together

We are the voice of dentists and dental students in the UK. We bring dentists together, support our members through advice and education, and represent their interests.

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You can trust the BDA to provide expert advice for your working life, indemnify you through a dentist-led team fighting your corner, provide learning for you and the wider dental team, and keep dentistry on the desks of politicians and the media.

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Exclusively for BDA members

Dental market insight report 2026

Dentists working in general practice - be they associates, practice owners and partners, or running practices on behalf of larger groups - are uniquely exposed to changes in the economy. Our report is essential reading for anyone interested in how the current political and economic context affects general dental practice in the UK.

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Click to download the latest s3-level clinical practice guidelines for sensitivity.

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The Latest

What's new?

England: A new minister must face down old problems

James Frith needs to show real urgency and ambition.

Facts over myths: tackling migration and the crisis in dentistry

Correcting the record on the claims made by Restore’s Rupert Lowe.

England: A chance to streamline record keeping in your practice

NHS England’s new standard operating procedures (SOPs) may support clinicians to adopt a more proportionate and efficient system of recording clinical treatments.

Scotland: Quality Improvement activity update for 2026-27

This cycle year addresses anti-microbial stewardship.

Wales: New ministers risk owning predecessors’ mistakes

New dental school won’t solve the crisis if students can’t see a future in the NHS.

Emails about data protection officer requirements

Dental practices are receiving emails from the Data Protection Officers Association containing claims about data protection officer requirements and NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit compliance.

England: Service not on ‘road to recovery’

Unmet need for NHS dentistry remains at near record highs.

Penny pinching on dental academia will undermine workforce plans

Planned cuts to funding for clinical academics could have severe knock-on effects on the ability to train the next generation of dentists.

England: Don’t let minsters mark their own homework on dentistry

We are urging MPs to drop government plans to abolish Healthwatch England.

England: Care pathways come with disproportionate burden

We have warned the profession that the administrative, reporting and clinical requirements involved in delivering Complex Care Pathways (CCPs) are disproportionate and risk making the new payment tariffs unattractive. 

England: Government exempt quality improvement and appraisals from uplifts

Officials take a pick-and-mix approach to supporting contract holders.

Ham-fisted reform rollout to undermine patient care

Software suppliers raise red flags over practicalities ahead of the new NHS Dental Services Portal launch.

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Meet Dandy

The full service digital dental lab, now servicing practices and dental groups within the UK. Dandy offers Private and NHS pricing, fast turnaround times, and state of the art digital workflows including 2-Appointment Dentures.

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Here when you need us

You do dentistry. We do advice.

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for expert members

Downloads for your dental practice

Expert members have access to our popular library of audits, checklists, and templates - giving you a head start in running a safe, compliant and successful practice.

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Bespoke help when you need it

1-2-1 advice for Extra and Expert members

As an Extra or Expert member, you can rely on unlimited, one-to-one support from our industry experts whenever you need it. Whether you need quick guidance or in-depth support, our expert advisors are here to help.

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Learning and development

Event - 18 September 2026 (London)

A day with Dr Francesca Vailati

Don't miss our exclusive one-day masterclass with Dr. Francesca Vailati, internationally renowned for her expertise in adhesive dentistry and functional rehabilitation. This event is designed for dentists wanting to understand, diagnose and manage occlusal instability through a modern, minimally invasive approach.

Secure your place

Blogs in focus

BlogMonday 27 Jul 2026

Extractions: We need to see real priority from a new administration

A new team at the Department of Health needs to prioritise old problems.

BlogMonday 27 Jul 2026

Private dental review: Competition and Markets Authority sets out interim findings

Everything you need to know about progress with the review of private dentistry.

BlogThursday 16 Jul 2026

Early cracks in the 2026 General Dental Services contract

Three months into the changes to the General Dental Services (GDS) contract, growing feedback from practices across Wales suggests that challenges around patient access, administration, technology, and implementation are causing increasing pressure.

BlogThursday 16 Jul 2026

Complex Care Pathways: A step forward, but key concerns remain

The principle of Complex Care Pathways is clinically sound, but concerns around funding, risk, and administration mean the model is not yet fully workable.

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Dentistry's jobs board

1000s of dental jobs from all around the UK updated daily. Free nurse and support role vacancy ads for members.

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