New dental contract pilot practices announced

The government has announced the addition of 20 dental practices to a pilot programme testing the different elements of the new dental contract.

Located across the country, the sites will be assessing the contract's impact on preventative oral health policies, with a focus on delivering better results for both adults and children.

Currently, there are 90 dental practices across the country involved in the pilot, which is examining the feasibility of paying dentists on the basis of the health results they produce, rather than the number of treatments they carry out.

Also being assessed are new care pathways that emphasise personalised treatments and IT system enhancements to improve operational efficiency.

In a speech at the recent Local Dental Committee conference, health minister Lord Howe said: "The insight and feedback we are gathering from all the pilot sites is proving to be invaluable in shaping the future dental contract."

Earlier this month, the British Dental Association underlined the importance of any dental contract changes preserving the financial stability of practices.