In its annual report for 2025, the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body (DDRB) recommended a 4% uplift for Community Dental Service (CDS) and Public Dental Service (PDS) dentists across the UK. The recommendation has been accepted by UK governments and should be implemented shortly.
More significantly, in its recommendations for 2025-26, the DDRB has urged that “each government should undertake a review of pay and progression for salaried dentists working in Community and Public Dental Services to assess whether the reward structure is appropriate to support recruitment, retention and service delivery”. We have asked the Department of Health and Social Care, and devolved administrations, to confirm that they accept this recommendation.
At present, CDS pay and progression are dictated by the Salaried Primary Dental Care Services Terms and Conditions of Service and accompanying pay circulars. Progression is linked to annual appraisals, with performance assessed against job plans and band-specific competencies.
However, evidence presented to the DDRB highlights growing concerns that pay and progression is hindering recruitment and retention within the CDS. Salaries, particularly the starting salary for Band A posts, are frequently seen as uncompetitive with other dental roles.
One proposal is to remove the barrier between Bands A and B, creating a run-through grade where progression is based on meeting agreed clinical, educational, or service-based targets. We will seek to work with UK governments to assess if there is scope to take this forward through negotiation.
If agreed, we hope this could lead to easier recruitment and reward, together with career development opportunities for the service. CDS dentists will have opportunities to actively shape our approach to any changes to the terms and conditions of service, with the representative committees leading these negotiations.
