For NHS Contract Holders and Affiliate Dentists in England based mostly on the Dental Replace / Apply Plan Webinar, 7 April 2026
Round 1,500 folks tuned into our NHS Dental Contract modifications in England webinar stay or have considered it on demand since. On the evening, almost 90 questions have been submitted to the chat. Clearly, it is a topic the place a lot of you need extra data or higher readability.
To assist present this, we’ve grouped collectively the questions we obtained and supplied some solutions, the place doable. In some instances, additional steerage continues to be to be issued which implies we are able to’t reply that query but. The place that’s the case, we’ve made that clear.
We hope you discover these useful. If you want to have a chat with one among our NHS consultants to debate your choices, you possibly can e-book a no obligation confidential chat right here.
Unscheduled (pressing) care — overview
Q: What’s the new definition of unscheduled care?
A: Unscheduled care is outlined as a immediate course of therapy that’s clinically needed as a result of, within the opinion of the contractor, the particular person’s oral well being is prone to deteriorate considerably, or the particular person’s presentation signifies a necessity for therapy inside seven days — and the therapy is supplied solely to the extent needed to stop that deterioration or deal with that want.
Importantly, the earlier requirement for ‘extreme ache’ has been eliminated. This widens entry to these with damaged enamel, misplaced crowns, wobbly enamel or damaged dentures, even the place ache isn’t the first presentation.
Q: Which sufferers does the unscheduled care obligation apply to?
A: All sufferers — there isn’t any restriction. This consists of your individual current sufferers who contact the follow, sufferers referred through NHS 111, and new sufferers phoning the follow. You do not want to be accepting new NHS sufferers typically as a way to see somebody for unscheduled care.
Q: Does this apply to youngsters in addition to adults?
A: Sure. The unscheduled care obligation applies to each grownup and baby sufferers.
Q: What codes ought to we use to submit unscheduled care claims?
A: Your dental software program (e.g. Software program of Excellence, Dentally) needs to be up to date to mirror unscheduled care claims. Converse together with your software program supplier in case you are unsure which codes apply. On the time of the webinar, some practices have been experiencing preliminary configuration points which have been anticipated to be resolved throughout the first month or two of the brand new preparations. Steerage from the BSA also needs to be checked immediately if claims are being rejected.
Q: Our ICB has requested us to not submit unscheduled care claims to the BSA for a few months. What in regards to the two-month rule for claims?
A: That is an space of native variation. In case your ICB has particularly suggested you to delay submission, you must comply with that native steerage and search written affirmation from them. The 2-month rule is a regular submission deadline, however ICBs can present native course throughout transitional durations. Contact your Native Dental Committee (LDC) or ICB immediately for affirmation in writing.
The 8.2% unscheduled care goalÂ
Q: Is the 8.2% goal based mostly on contract worth (cash) or the variety of UDAs?
A: It’s based mostly in your Related Contract Worth (RCV), which is the financial worth of your contract, not the variety of UDAs. The components for calculating the required variety of unscheduled care appointments is: RCV ÷ 10,000 × 11.
Q: Are the unscheduled care UDAs deducted from my complete contract UDAs, or are they as well as?
A: The 8.2% is carved out from inside your current contract worth, it isn’t further funding on high. In impact, you may have two targets: your 8.2% unscheduled care factor, and the remaining 91.8% of your base contract. Clawback can apply to both if targets usually are not met.
Q: What number of emergency slots per week ought to I present for a contract of 1,000 UDAs per yr?
A: Utilizing the components (RCV ÷ 10,000 × 11), you possibly can calculate your anticipated variety of unscheduled appointments for the yr and divide by 52 to get a weekly determine. This may fluctuate relying in your UDA charge per appointment, however as a tough information, for a smaller contract of 1,000 UDAs, that is prone to be one or two slots per week.
Q: Can the 8.2% goal be diminished if we can not meet it?
A: Presumably. If you happen to consider you’ll not meet your unscheduled care goal, you possibly can communicate together with your commissioner (ICB) to cut back the goal by as much as 15%, providing you with some further flexibility. NHSE has  recommended what standards would have to be glad to permit any discount, and it’s doubtless they’d require the submission of serious proof to realize this transformation.
Q: What occurs if we deplete all our unscheduled care slots earlier than the tip of the yr?
A: There isn’t a obligation to cease offering unscheduled care after you have hit the 8.2% goal. Nonetheless, the fee mechanism modifications. Upon getting exceeded the 8.2% threshold, the NHS will robotically start paying £75 per further unscheduled care appointment (transformed to UDAs at your follow charge).
Q: What if we run out of general UDA capability early, say by January, as a result of all the brand new elements?
A: There isn’t a contractual obligation to unfold your UDA exercise evenly throughout the yr. If you happen to exhaust your contract exercise, you’re required to direct sufferers to different NHS provision the place doable or advise them that funding is exhausted and supply them the selection of personal therapy or a return appointment when your new contract yr commences on 1st April.
Q: Will or not it’s doable for an affiliate working for a company to choose out of unscheduled care?
A: That is finally a contractual and employment matter. The duty to offer unscheduled care sits with the contract holder (the supplier). Whether or not that flows all the way down to particular person associates, and on what phrases, needs to be addressed in affiliate agreements. The BDA has up to date its mannequin affiliate settlement template to mirror the brand new contract modifications; this may be downloaded from the BDA web site. Associates ought to test their particular person agreements and talk about preparations with their principal.
Funds for unscheduled careÂ
Q: How does the £75 fee work? Does it substitute the 1.6 UDAs?
A: The £75 isn’t paid as a substitute of UDAs, it’s transformed into UDAs at your follow’s personal UDA charge (not a nationwide charge). Your dental software program presently exhibits unscheduled care appointments as 1.6 UDAs as a short lived placeholder as a result of software program suppliers don’t maintain your particular person UDA charge. This will likely be reconciled as soon as your precise follow charge is confirmed, sometimes throughout the first month or two. The £75 converts to a selected variety of UDAs distinctive to every follow.Â
Q: What’s the £15 fee for failed-to-attend (FTA) unscheduled appointments, and who receives it?
A: The £15 is a notional fee to offset the lack of revenue from missed unscheduled appointments. It’s paid to the follow on a month-to-month foundation no matter whether or not FTAs happen. You do not want to assert it and it isn’t topic to clawback. It’s divided by 12 and arrives robotically as a part of your month-to-month contract funds.
Q: How do associates receives a commission for unscheduled care?
A: Unscheduled care exercise will seem on the person performer’s Compass schedule as UDAs (transformed from the pound worth). Associates needs to be paid their standard share utilized to these UDAs in the identical approach as banded course-of-treatment UDAs. Associates even have entry to their very own Compass schedule to confirm the figures independently.
Q: What in regards to the £15 FTA fee — does that go to associates?
A: That is on the discretion of the follow. The £15 types a part of the general contract fee, and there’s no mandated requirement to move it on to associates. Some practices have chosen to pay associates the total £75 (inclusive of the £15), treating all of it as a single fee. Others could deal with it in a different way. This needs to be addressed in affiliate agreements. The BDA has acknowledged this as an space of reputable debate and dialogue.
Q: If a supplier pays associates the £15 FTA fee, how is that this finished; as further UDAs or individually?
A: It is a practice-level choice and needs to be documented within the affiliate settlement. It may very well be paid as further UDAs (added alongside the unscheduled care UDAs on Compass) or as a separate fee. Converse to your accountant and make sure the association is clearly set out in writing.
Q: If there may be clawback, and the follow has already paid associates for unscheduled UDAs, does the follow claw again cash from associates?
A: This is a vital space to handle in affiliate agreements prematurely. The clawback danger sits with the contract holder, and the way any shortfall flows to associates will depend upon the phrases of their particular person agreements. Associates should not have UDA targets in the identical approach as contract holders. It’s strongly really useful that practices evaluation and replace affiliate agreements to handle these doable circumstances.
Q: If we pay associates totally different UDA values, how will we calculate unscheduled care pay?
A: The unscheduled care UDAs will seem on every performer’s Compass line on the follow’s general UDA charge. If associates are on totally different share preparations, you apply their particular person share to these UDAs within the regular approach. The secret’s that the UDA worth on Compass displays the follow charge, the share cut up then applies in line with every affiliate’s settlement.
Managing unscheduled care appointments — medical and administrative questionsÂ
Q: What therapy is required throughout an unscheduled care appointment to draw the fee?
A: The therapy supplied should tackle the presenting downside. The intention is to stop vital deterioration. This may increasingly embody extractions, non permanent fillings, everlasting fillings, dressings, recementation, or applicable ache administration. There isn’t a single mandated therapy sort; medical judgement governs what is important throughout the appointment.
Q: Can I present a short lived filling at a Band 1 appointment and produce the affected person again for a definitive restoration at a Band 2?
A: Sure, this strategy is clinically legitimate. The preliminary unscheduled appointment addresses the quick presenting want (e.g. a damaged tooth), closed as a Band 1 course of therapy. If the affected person then returns for definitive restorative therapy, that is opened as a brand new course of therapy below the suitable band. Please observe that affected person expenses apply per course of therapy, so two separate programs means two expenses.
Q: I see an unscheduled affected person however can not end therapy within the appointment. How will we cost in the event that they return for completion?
A: If you happen to shut the unscheduled course of therapy (e.g. as a Band 1 or Band 2 relying on what was accomplished), and the affected person returns for remaining therapy, this is able to be opened as a brand new course of therapy below the suitable band. If therapy isn’t but full and the course of therapy stays open, the affected person cost for all the course is collected when the course is ultimately closed.
Q: As soon as a brand new affected person is seen for unscheduled care, are we obliged to take them onto our NHS books and supply ongoing therapy?
A: No. The unscheduled care appointment is a discrete episode of care to handle the quick presenting downside. There isn’t a contractual obligation to supply the affected person ongoing NHS care. You’ll be able to deal with it as a one-off episode. Whether or not or to not supply ongoing NHS care to that affected person stays a follow choice. There isn’t a such factor as registration with a follow for NHS sufferers.
Q: What number of unscheduled programs of therapy can a affected person have? For instance, if a non-registered affected person attends twice in 50 days, is that permitted?
A: There isn’t a said most variety of unscheduled programs of therapy a affected person can entry. Every episode is handled as a clinically needed course of care on the time. A affected person who presents twice with separate, real unscheduled wants inside a brief interval may be seen and claimed for every individually, supplied every attendance is clinically justified.
Q: May a affected person on a personal plan (e.g. Denplan Necessities masking exams and prevention solely) nonetheless entry unscheduled care on the NHS for a toothache?
A: Sure. A affected person lined by a personal upkeep plan that covers solely examinations and prevention can nonetheless entry NHS unscheduled look after an acute dental downside. Mixing NHS and personal therapy inside a single course of therapy isn’t permitted, however two separate programs (one NHS unscheduled, one non-public) for various presenting wants at totally different instances are permissible.
Q: Can one dentist in a multi-dentist follow be designated solely for unscheduled care, whereas others deal with care pathways?
A: Sure, supplied the general 8.2% goal is met for the follow as a complete. How the follow organises its medical workforce to satisfy that obligation is a matter of inner association. The duty rests with the contract holder slightly than particular person performers.
Q: How will we handle the appointment e-book virtually to satisfy the 8.2% goal?
A: Reserving devoted day by day or weekly slots is the really useful strategy. Prepare reception and medical workers to triage calls appropriately, distinguishing between unscheduled/pressing care, routine scheduled appointments, and non-urgent enquiries. NHS 111 might also direct sufferers to you, so talk your capability clearly to your ICB and to 111 if demand is exceeding what your slots can accommodate. Evaluate and regulate slot allocation as you collect knowledge by the primary yr.
Q: How ought to an affiliate exhibit or document {that a} affected person didn’t attend?
A: Recording the failed appointment within the affected person document (together with date, time, and that the affected person didn’t attend) is nice practise. Your dental software program also needs to log the appointment as a non-attendance. Whereas the £15 FTA fee doesn’t require you to assert or police non-attendances, good document retaining protects you clinically and administratively ought to there be any queries.
Q: If unused unscheduled slots can be found on the day, can we fill them from NHS 111 referrals?
A: Sure. In case you have capability remaining in your designated unscheduled slots, you possibly can settle for sufferers directed to you by NHS 111 or by sufferers contacting you immediately. There isn’t a restriction on the supply of the affected person for unscheduled care appointments.
Q: Does unscheduled care apply if we maintain a UDCH contract for the NHS 111 Out-of-Hours service?
A: The 8.2% unscheduled care requirement applies to straightforward GDS/PDS contracts delivering normal NHS dental providers. If you happen to maintain a separate UDCH or out-of-hours commissioned service, the phrases of that particular contract will govern how these appointments are counted and claimed. Examine together with your ICB or the related NHSE workforce for readability on how your particular contract sort works with the brand new necessities.
Which contracts are exempt from the brand new necessities?Â
Q: Do the brand new unscheduled care and care pathway necessities apply to a children-only contracts?
A: No. Youngsters-only contracts usually are not topic to the brand new unscheduled care 8.2% goal or the complicated care pathways. If you happen to maintain a pre-2006 children-only contract, these modifications don’t apply to you.
Q: What a few very small contract, e.g. 230 UDAs or 1,000 UDAs?
A: Very small contracts delivering a low variety of UDAs are additionally prone to be exterior the scope of the brand new necessities. The modifications don’t apply to orthodontic PDS agreements or different bolt-on non-mandatory service agreements. If you’re unsure whether or not your contract is in scope, contact your ICB or NHS England.
Q: We’ve an exempt-patient-only contract (free therapy for eligible sufferers). Do these modifications apply?
A: This is dependent upon the character and measurement of the contract. Youngsters-only and really small contracts are broadly excluded. In case your exempt-patient contract delivers NHS normal dental providers above the edge, you must contact your ICB for particular affirmation as as to if the necessities apply to you.
Q: Do the appraisal and fluoride varnish necessities apply to a children-only contract?
A: Fluoride varnish (standalone software for under-16s) and fissure sealants are notably related to practices seeing youngsters. Value determinations are a contractual requirement for NHS clinicians assembly the minimal exercise threshold, no matter contract sort. Affirm together with your ICB or NHSE which parts apply to your particular contract.
Advanced Care Pathways (CCPs)Â
Q: What are the three complicated care pathways and when will they be launched?
A: Three new complicated care packages have been launched, although they’re anticipated to be operational from 1 June 2026 as a result of a legislative drafting delay:
CCP1: 5 or extra carious lesions (interdentine). Length: 6 months. Fee: £284 (transformed to UDAs at your follow charge).
CCP2: 5 or extra carious lesions plus unstable periodontal illness. Length: 12 months. Fee: £709.
CCP3: New analysis of Grade C periodontal illness. Length: 6 months. Fee: £248.
Full medical steerage is predicted to be printed shortly. These pathways are voluntary; you aren’t obliged to position sufferers on them. Nonetheless, persevering with to make use of the outdated phased therapy strategy (a number of bands of therapy for a similar affected person) will likely be considered unfavourably, because it ends in greater affected person expenses.
Q: Are these care pathways obligatory?
A: No. Participation is voluntary. Nonetheless, if a affected person with 5 or extra carious lesions is handled by a number of separate banded programs of therapy slightly than a CCP, they are going to pay a number of affected person expenses slightly than a single band cost for the pathway. The pathway is a greater deal for the affected person financially, and the follow ought to obtain broadly comparable revenue. The BDA recommends transitioning away from phased therapy.
Q: How does the fee work? Is all of it paid upfront or over time?
A: Fee is made month-to-month. The entire pathway worth (e.g. £709 for CCP2) is split by 12 and paid to the follow every month at some point of the pathway. Funds cease when the affected person exits the pathway both as a result of the pathway is full, or as a result of the affected person has been eliminated (e.g. as a result of repeated non-attendance).
Q: If a affected person completes all 5 restorations in lower than six months, how are we paid?
A: The pathway is predicated on a bundle of care and a time interval, not on finishing a set variety of particular therapies. The intention is stabilisation. If the medical work is full earlier than the six months are up, the pathway can nonetheless run to its finish date whereas the affected person is supported (e.g. with fluoride functions, behaviour change recommendation, distant check-ins). Additional steerage on closing pathways early is predicted within the forthcoming medical steerage.
Q: What occurs if a affected person on a care pathway fails to attend?
A: If a affected person repeatedly fails to attend, you possibly can take away them from the pathway. When you notify the BSA that the affected person has exited the pathway, month-to-month funds stop. You shouldn’t proceed to obtain funds for a affected person who’s now not actively on the pathway. The specifics of the way to document and report this will likely be set out within the medical steerage.
Q: If a affected person on a posh care pathway presents as an emergency through the 6 or 12-month interval, will we cost them an unscheduled payment or is it included?
A: That is an space the place we’re awaiting additional medical steerage. Present understanding is that if a affected person on a CCP presents with a brand new acute downside through the pathway interval, this can be managed as a part of the pathway slightly than as a separate unscheduled course of therapy. The steerage will make clear this.
Q: Do we have to begin a brand new course of therapy for definitive work (e.g. root canal, crowns) as soon as the affected person is stabilised?
A: Sure. The complicated care pathway covers stabilisation, managing the quick illness burden (caries, periodontal illness) to get the affected person to a secure state. As soon as stabilised, any definitive restorative work (e.g. root canal therapy, crowns, bridges) could be supplied below a brand new banded course of therapy, chargeable within the regular approach.
Q: Would we have to end endodontic therapy began through the pathway earlier than it ends?
A: The pathway is a stabilisation interval; it isn’t essentially a completion interval. You aren’t obliged to finish each therapy merchandise earlier than the pathway ends. The purpose is to stabilise the affected person’s situation. Definitive therapy could comply with below a brand new course of therapy. Additional steerage could make clear expectations round therapies commenced however not but accomplished on the finish of a pathway.
Q: When will we shut the course of therapy for a care pathway affected person? What if we end early?
A: The pathway has an outlined period (6 or 12 months). The course of therapy would sometimes be closed on the finish of the pathway interval. If all lively therapy is full earlier than then, the pathway continues for monitoring, preventive help, and behavior change. The forthcoming medical steerage ought to present clearer course on early closure.
Q: How does the care pathway work the place totally different clinicians are seeing the affected person, corresponding to a GDP and a dental hygienist/therapist?
A: The pathway is a multi-disciplinary bundle and totally different workforce members can contribute to it. For instance, a hygienist managing periodontal therapy and fluoride functions, whereas the dentist offers restorations. All clinicians concerned needs to be registered on Compass as performers and their exercise recorded accordingly. We count on additional steerage on multi-clinician pathways and the way workforce exercise is recorded.
Q: How will care pathway month-to-month funds be allotted to associates?
A: That is on the follow’s discretion and needs to be agreed prematurely and documented in affiliate agreements. The month-to-month fee arrives at follow stage through Compass as UDAs. The follow would then apportion fee to the clinician(s) who carried out the pathway therapy, in the identical approach as different UDA-based funds. There isn’t a single prescribed strategy; it’s one thing for practices to find out based mostly on their very own preparations.
Q: What about stabilisation restorations? Is there a selected code for a non-GIC non permanent restoration positioned as a stabilisation measure?
A: That is an space the place additional coding steerage from the BSA is required. As talked about within the webinar, the intention is {that a} restoration positioned as a part of stabilisation (whether or not GIC, IRM, composite or amalgam) could be claimed below the suitable current restoration codes. The place there may be uncertainty, you possibly can both anticipate the medical steerage or contact the BSA immediately for clarification.
Q: If a affected person on a CCP returns after failing to attend and asks to renew therapy, will we restart the entire pathway?
A: We count on particulars of re-entry following affected person elimination from a pathway to be lined within the forthcoming medical steerage. As a normal precept, if a affected person was eliminated as a result of non-attendance after which re-presents, a medical evaluation could be wanted to find out whether or not the unique pathway situations nonetheless apply or whether or not a brand new pathway needs to be initiated.Â
Q: How will the BSA know a care plan (CCP) has been carried out?
A: The follow will notify the BSA through Compass when a affected person enters a pathway and can verify ongoing engagement (e.g. month-to-month) as a part of the executive course of. Funds are triggered by this notification. The exact administrative necessities will likely be set out within the medical steerage and BSA operational steerage which we count on quickly.Â
Q: We’ve already began phased therapy plans; what will we do now?
A: Current phased therapy plans that pre-date April 2026 may be accomplished below the earlier preparations. For brand new sufferers presenting from April onwards who meet CCP standards, you must take into account the pathway strategy slightly than phasing. Transitioning current phased sufferers onto CCPs mid-treatment would depend upon medical appropriateness and is one thing to hunt additional steerage on out of your LDC or NHS England.
Q: For Grade C periodontal sufferers, can we nonetheless refer them to hospital for superior obligatory providers?
A: Sure. Referral to secondary look after therapy past the scope of normal dental follow stays applicable the place clinically indicated, whatever the new care pathways. The CCP3 pathway is for Grade C periodontal illness managed in main care. If the complexity of the case warrants secondary care, referral continues to be the proper plan of action.
Fluoride varnish and fissure sealantsÂ
Q: How does standalone fluoride varnish work below the brand new contract?
A: A standalone fluoride varnish software can now be delivered for sufferers below 16, value 0.5 UDAs. If it’s utilized by a dental nurse then they have to be appropriately skilled, competent, and indemnified to take action. The nurse have to be registered on Compass as a performer. It’s a separate course of therapy from another examination or therapy, requiring a written prescription from a dentist. Intervals have to be not lower than three months between functions.
Q: What number of UDAs does fluoride varnish entice for the dentist in the event that they apply it themselves?
A: The standalone fluoride varnish is valued at 0.5 UDAs. It may be utilized by both the dentist or a suitably skilled and indemnified dental nurse. Nonetheless, the medical and business intent is for extended-duty dental nurses to ship this, releasing dentist time for extra complicated therapy.
Q: The three-month minimal interval for fluoride varnish doesn’t appear suitable with attaining 4 functions a yr for high-risk sufferers?
A: A 3-month minimal interval permits for as much as 4 functions per yr if appointments are spaced precisely. The scheduling does require correct appointment administration. For prime-caries-risk youngsters, this may be deliberate as two dentist-led functions and two nurse-led functions per yr, for instance. In follow, actual three-monthly intervals could also be difficult. What issues is that the interval isn’t lower than three months, not that it’s precisely three months.
Q: Can a dental therapist perform fluoride varnish functions and a nurse place fluoride varnish on prescription?
A: Sure. Dental therapists and hygienists are additionally in a position to apply fluoride varnish inside their scope of follow. Prolonged-duty dental nurses can achieve this below a written prescription from a dentist. All clinicians doing so have to be appropriately skilled, indemnified, and registered on Compass.
Value determinationsÂ
Q: Are value determinations obligatory?
A: Sure. Value determinations are a contractual requirement, having been in GDS contracts since 2006 below paragraph 30 of Schedule 3, although they have been by no means beforehand applied. There’s now an lively appraisal system, making this requirement enforceable. Eligible clinicians (dentists, dental therapists and hygienists delivering NHS care) should take part.
Q: Who’s eligible for an appraisal?
A: Dentists, dental therapists and hygienists who’ve delivered NHS dental look after a minimal interval. The present minimal threshold is equal to 2 entire working days per 30 days (or 12 days throughout a steady six-month interval), and the clinician will need to have been in steady NHS employment over the last 26 weeks of that interval. Hygienists or therapists who work at a follow however ship solely non-public care don’t qualify.
Q: How a lot is an appraisal fee?
A: Value determinations entice a fee of roughly £213–£230 per appraisal. It is a contractual fee, not a part of the voluntary high quality enchancment fund.
Q: Who receives the appraisal fee, the appraiser or the appraisee?
A: The steerage suggests the particular person being appraised (the appraisee) receives the fee, however somebody additionally has to conduct the appraisal. In follow, this fee ought to ideally be cut up between the 2 events, or the preparations needs to be mentioned and agreed as a part of affiliate contracts or employment phrases.Â
Q: How do I declare for an appraisal, both because the appraiser or appraisee?
A: The executive course of for claiming appraisal funds will likely be set out in NHSE operational steerage. It’s anticipated to be managed through Compass. If you’re uncertain, contact your ICB or NHSE immediately for the claims course of.
Q: Is there a selected time allocation required for an appraisal?
A: No particular time requirement has been stipulated past what’s clinically and professionally cheap. A significant appraisal would sometimes take at the least an hour. Additional operational steerage could make clear expectations.
Q: Does the ICB present the appraisal mechanism?
A: The ICB is accountable for commissioning or facilitating the appraisal framework inside their space. The appraisal is a contractual requirement that ICBs should help. The place no ICB-led system is in place, practices could must develop their very own peer appraisal preparations that adhere to the necessities of the contract.
High quality enchancment and recall intervalsÂ
Q: What’s the high quality enchancment fee and is it obligatory?
A: The standard enchancment initiative is voluntary and attracts a fee of £3,400 paid month-to-month. It focuses totally on adherence to NICE tips on recall intervals which implies guaranteeing that sufferers are recalled at clinically applicable intervals slightly than defaulting to six-monthly recollects for all sufferers no matter danger.
Q: Is the NICE steerage on recall intervals a brand new requirement?
A: No. NICE steerage on recall intervals has been in place since 2006. What’s new is a higher diploma of scrutiny and an expectation of lively adherence to those tips. Practices which might be recalling low-risk, wholesome sufferers each six months could also be anticipated to increase recall intervals in keeping with NICE steerage. The info submitted to commissioners suggests {that a} vital proportion of practices usually are not totally adhering to risk-based recall intervals.
Q: What about sufferers who need a six-month check-up even when medical want doesn’t require it?
A: Affected person choice doesn’t override medical steerage on recall intervals. If a affected person’s oral well being danger evaluation signifies {that a} 12-month or longer recall is suitable, the clinician ought to comply with NICE steerage and advise the affected person accordingly. Sufferers can select to attend privately extra incessantly, however NHS recall frequency needs to be clinically justified. This may increasingly require clear communication with sufferers.
Talent combine, workforce working and peer evaluationÂ
Q: How does ability combine work with two full-time dentists and two full-time therapists? What are the optimum preparations?
A: Talent combine is a key factor of the brand new contract’s intent. Therapists and hygienists can take a higher function in delivering periodontal therapy, fluoride functions, fissure sealants, and preventive recommendation and so releasing dentists for extra complicated restorative and pressing care. Think about designating particular therapist/hygienist classes for pathway-related preventive care and fluoride functions, whereas dentists deal with analysis, complicated therapy, and unscheduled care. Your appointment e-book needs to be configured to route applicable sufferers to the precise clinician, with applicable triaging by reception workers.
Q: Hygienists and therapists at my follow usually are not below NHS, how do I deal with sufferers who received’t see them privately?
A: It is a vital medical and business problem. Sufferers who decline to see hygienists or therapists privately could also be managed inside NHS appointments the place the therapist or hygienist is offering NHS care as a part of a care pathway. In case your therapists/hygienists usually are not delivering NHS care, they won’t entice NHS funds for these classes. You would possibly want to think about whether or not it’s possible to convey therapist/hygienist classes throughout the NHS contract, notably for periodontal and preventive care related to the brand new pathways.
Q: How does peer evaluation work for a solo dentist working with dental therapists?
A: Peer evaluation on this context pertains to the standard enchancment and appraisal necessities and may contain exterior friends the place in-house colleagues usually are not obtainable. A solo dentist can get in contact with their LDC, native peer evaluation teams, or the BDA’s help assets to rearrange applicable peer evaluation preparations. The ICB also needs to have the ability to direct you to native constructions for this.
Affiliate-specific questionsÂ
Q: What ought to associates be paid for unscheduled care together with FTA slots?
A: There isn’t a nationally mandated components for the way associates are paid for unscheduled care, past the requirement that the follow tracks and pays UDAs as they seem on Compass. Many practices are opting to pay the total £75 per appointment (transformed to UDAs on the follow charge) to associates. The £15 FTA factor is discretionary. Associates ought to make certain their settlement is up to date to mirror the brand new preparations and that it consists of readability on unscheduled care funds.
Q: How can an affiliate monitor what number of unscheduled care appointments they’ve finished?
A: Associates have entry to their very own particular person Compass schedules, which can present unscheduled care UDAs as a separate line merchandise. Associates ought to test Compass usually to confirm their exercise is being recorded accurately.
Q: My affiliate settlement doesn’t point out unscheduled care, what ought to I do?
A: The BDA has up to date its mannequin affiliate settlement template to incorporate provisions for the brand new contract modifications, together with unscheduled care. You’ll be able to obtain this from the BDA web site. The BDA additionally provides a free contract checking service for members. They’ll examine your settlement in opposition to the present template and flag any gaps.
Q: Will or not it’s dearer for follow homeowners to pay associates, since UDAs are now not being transformed in opposition to the follow’s precise contract worth in the identical approach as earlier than?
A: It is a concern raised by some follow homeowners. The important thing challenge is that the conversion of pound values (£60, £75, £15) again to UDAs is completed at your follow’s personal UDA charge. In case your UDA charge is excessive, fewer UDAs are attributed per appointment; if low, extra are attributed. In principle the follow ought to obtain broadly the identical revenue per appointment as if it had been a banded course of therapy, however the particular monetary impression will fluctuate by follow. You’ll be able to mannequin this in opposition to your individual UDA charge to know the impact.
Administrative, software program and Compass questionsÂ
Q: I submitted an unscheduled care declare in early April and it was rejected with a code 252 error. What ought to I do?
A: Software program was not totally configured for the brand new codes firstly of April, and a few claims submitted within the first weeks could have encountered errors. Examine together with your software program supplier (e.g. SOE) that your system is accurately configured for unscheduled care claims. If the rejection seems to be a system error, resubmit as soon as the configuration is confirmed. Contact the BSA helpline if the issue persists.
Q: How do I add a dental nurse to Compass?
A: Contact your follow’s Compass administrator or NHS Enterprise Companies Authority (BSA) on to register a dental nurse on Compass as a performer. The nurse will have to be GDC-registered and have applicable {qualifications} for any NHS exercise they’re performing (e.g. fluoride varnish software).
Q: Can we nonetheless use the evaluation and recommendation code (1.2 UDAs) alongside the brand new codes?
A: The evaluation and recommendation course of therapy (Band 1 equal at 1.2 UDAs) continues to exist. If you happen to perform an examination, present recommendation, however no additional therapy is required, this code stays relevant. It’s separate from the unscheduled care pathways.
Q: How are lab charges affected by the brand new contract modifications?
A: The brand new contract modifications don’t particularly alter how lab charges are dealt with. Lab work related to a band of therapy (e.g. Band 3 crown) continues to be claimed below the prevailing preparations. In case your software program has a selected discipline for lab charges, this pertains to the prevailing band-based claiming course of slightly than the brand new pathways.
Broader context and future courseÂ
Q: Will the 8.2% unscheduled care goal improve in future?
A: It’s doable. If the federal government’s goal of 700,000 pressing appointments isn’t met, there may be an expectation that the mandated share could also be elevated. The primary yr will present knowledge on what stage of unscheduled care the occupation can realistically ship, and this may inform future changes.
Q: How will these modifications improve entry if funding is successfully being unfold extra thinly throughout extra providers?
A: It is a broadly shared concern. The brand new preparations are partly a political response to the numerous variety of sufferers unable to entry NHS dental care. Whether or not they materially improve general entry, or just redistribute current assets, will likely be seen by the information collected within the first yr. The BDA continues to make the case for elevated general dental funding as the one sustainable long-term answer.
Q: Is a basic new contract nonetheless deliberate?
A: Sure. The present Authorities has made a parliamentary dedication to introduce a brand new NHS dental contract throughout the lifetime of this parliament. Negotiations between the BDA’s Normal Dental Apply Committee and NHS England are actively ongoing. Nonetheless, the ultimate form of any new contract is topic to the funding obtainable and there may be presently no indication of a big improve within the dental funds from the Treasury.
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For additional steerage:
British Dental Affiliation (BDA): www.bda.org — member help, up to date affiliate settlement templates, and free contract checking service.
NHS Enterprise Companies Authority (BSA): www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk — for Compass queries, claims submissions, and BSA steerage.
NHS England Dental: www.england.nhs.uk/primary-care/dentistry — for medical steerage on the brand new pathways (anticipated imminently).
Native Dental Committee (LDC): Contact your LDC for native ICB preparations and area-specific steerage.
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Disclaimer: This FAQ doc has been ready based mostly on the webinar dialogue held on 7 April 2026. Some areas of the contract stay topic to additional steerage and laws. This doc doesn’t represent authorized or monetary recommendation. Contract holders and associates are suggested to hunt particular recommendation from the BDA, their LDC, ICB or skilled advisers in relation to their particular person circumstances.
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