This summer, NHS dental practices will be involved in a trial of a new contract that will result in NHS dentists receiving payment for the quality of the treatment that they provide instead of the number of treatments provided, as is currently the case.
There are 62 dental practices taking part in the scheme, which it is hoped will bring an improvement in the service received by dental patients in the UK. The intention of the trials is to offer an improved quality of patient care, boost access to NHS dental services and also provide better treatment for the oral health of children around the country.
The upgraded contract being trialled is to be based around the concepts of capitation, registration and quality, meaning that dentists will for the first time be rewarded for the quality of care they deliver to patients instead of how many treatments they carry out.
There will be three different models piloted across England, all starting over this summer, with each model being somewhat different for the others so that information and evidence can be received on a range of aspects of the proposals, and also to provide better information on the development of the new national contract.
