Dentists in training

Following the publication of the Advancing Dental Care review in 2021, NHS England has completed the 20 recommendations for reform of the dental workforce. These reforms have developed a dental education and training model that continues to fully support dental trainees and dental care professionals to gain skills and capabilities for working with diverse patients across different clinical settings. They will ensure trained dental clinicians are better equipped to work within multidisciplinary teams to continue to deliver safe, high-quality care to patients across changing healthcare landscapes.

The success of the Dental Education Reform Programme will benefit dental education and training and support future clinicians to deliver the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. Dental care professionals will be able to work more to their full scope of practice in local neighbourhoods, meaning they can perform a broader range of treatments to more NHS patients increasing access to NHS Dentistry and improving population oral health from childhood, supporting the 3 strategic shifts for the NHS.

Notable achievements from DERP which support the 10 Year Plan and 3 strategic shifts include:

1. A new postgraduate early years training pathway involving a new two-year programme and curriculum which combines elements of Dental Foundation Training and Dental Core Training Year 1. All regions across England have offered places since 2025. The programme embeds greater skill base in the general dentist workforce and broadens trainees’ experiences in holistic care in a multidisciplinary team through placements in different settings supporting patients with complex and multiple health needs.
2. A consistent Lead Employer model across England which supports dental trainees in claiming travel expenses and receiving pay, Occupational Health and HR services.
3. New Middle Years postgraduate training pathway and curriculum which will run alongside Dental Core Training. The training pathway and curriculum will prepare trainees for working in the NHS and preparing for Dental Speciality Training. A pilot of this new model will start in September 2026.
4. Fairer distribution of new Dental Foundation Training and Dental Speciality Training roles which better aligns training places with population oral health needs.
5. New high quality induction process for all trainees.
6. Introduced apprenticeship standards for Dental Hygienists and Oral Health Practitioners.  
7. Supporting Dental Therapists to return to training and re-enter the NHS workforce.
8. Promoted flexible training opportunities for all trainees including Less Than Full Time Training including the introduction of identified posts, Out of Programme Opportunities and Flexible Portfolio Training