DHSC told us that issues with NHS dentistry pre–date the 2006 contract, and that with any change since the 1990s, “things have got worse”.18 DHSC began attempts at contract reform in 2010, testing changes through a prototype programme which combined payment by activity with a fixed amount paid per registered patient. Further prototype contracts ran between 2016 and 2019, but these arrangements ended in 2022 with DHSC concluding that the prototype had led to reductions in access and activity.1...

DHSC told us that issues with NHS dentistry pre–date the 2006 contract, and that with any change since the 1990s, “things have got worse”.18 DHSC began attempts at contract reform in 2010, testing changes through a prototype programme which combined payment by activity with a fixed amount paid per registered patient. Further prototype contracts ran between 2016 and 2019, but these arrangements ended in 2022 with DHSC concluding that the prototype had led to reductions in access and activity.19 In 2022, the first changes to the 2006 contract were introduced, including: • dividing band 2 treatments into three categories to reflect different com Type: conclusion | Number: 10 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: to be advised 1.2 To rebuild dentistry in the long term, work on the government’s ambition to reform the dental contract with a shift to focus on prevention and the retenti