The minister of state for the Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the dental workforce issues that stand in the way of recovery.

Talking as a keynote speaker at the BDIA Dental Showcase on March 14, 2025, Stephen Kinnock outlined the government’s plans for recovery.

During his talk, Stephen was mindful to thank the industry for the NHS delivery already happening. He recognised the need to focus on ‘dental desert’ areas and why support for the total dental workforce matters. The minister’s speech showed an understanding of the current recruitment challenges across dentistry, most notably dentists.

The Association of Dental Groups (ADG) has welcomed the recognition given by the minister, highlighting that its members have been repeatedly flagging that there is currently a 3,000+ gap in the dentist workforce. The association has said it now awaits news from the DHSC on provisional registration as part of a comprehensive revised workforce plan.

The issues in UK dentistry are multi-faceted, and so the ADG has welcomed the minister’s commitment to tackle NHS contract reform. Stephen also identified that access for children, the vulnerable and urgent care cases need prioritisation. The ADG has said it is delighted with his focus on prevention, as exemplified by the introduction of a targeted supervised toothbrushing initiative and the expansion of community water fluoridation in the North East, which are both evidence-based, proven oral health interventions.

Stephen’s efforts to secure a good funding deal with the treasury is championed by the ADG. The minister outlined the ongoing financial constraints but also said he understands the role dentistry’s ‘mixed economy’ in the UK plays.

Neil Carmichael, executive chair of the ADG, said, “It was gratifying to hear the minister’s focus on ‘dental deserts’ which is an issue that the ADG has been raising for some time, having coined the expression ‘dental deserts’ in a previous report. There are dental workforce issues across the whole of the UK, but they are particularly severe in certain areas. Recruitment, support for dental schools and improvements in the Overseas Recruitment Examination (ORE) access are fundamental to recovery.

“Stephen described UK dentistry as a ‘team sport’ – and I can assure him that the ADG is ready to play its part!”

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