GDC publishes dentists’ working patterns data for 2026

The General Dental Council has released its 2026 analysis of dentists’ working patterns, revealing a significant shift toward private practice across the UK. The latest figures show that 20% of dentists now provide only private care, with no NHS work, and an additional 14% spend more than 75% of their time in private practice.

The findings are based on responses from 35,474 dentists, representing 75% of the UK register, who completed the working patterns survey during their annual renewal since the questions were introduced in November 2023. According to the GDC, this cumulative dataset is now the most comprehensive and up‑to‑date source of information on how dental professionals organise their work.

Nearly all respondents (99%) reported that they were currently working in the dental sector, with the remaining 1% actively seeking roles. Of the 32,356 dentists practising in the UK, 89% were working primarily as general dentists, 9% as specialists and 1% as clinical dental technicians. Most dentists (81%) were based in England, followed by Scotland (11%), Wales (5%) and Northern Ireland (4%).

The data reveals the following about how and where dentists are working:

• Most dentists (81%) work in England, with just over one in ten (11%) working in Scotland, 5% in Wales and 4% in Northern Ireland.
• More than half (60%) are self-employed, agency workers or locums, a fifth (20%) are employees, and 15% are business owners or part-owners.
• Less than half (45%) work 30 hours per week or less, with the same proportion (45%) working between 30 and 40 hours per week.
• The majority (86%) work predominantly or fully in clinical roles, with a further 9% undertaking a mix of clinical and non-clinical work.
• Just over two-thirds (68%) work in general dental practice, with 6% in dental hospitals, 5% in community dental services and 4% in other hospital settings.
• More than half (60%) regularly work in one location, while more than a third (38%) regularly work across more than one location.
• More than two-fifths (41%) of dentists spend at least 75% of their time delivering NHS care, with 14% working exclusively in NHS settings. Conversely, a fifth (20%) provide only private care, with a further 14% working predominantly in private practice.

On NHS activity, the picture remains mixed. Forty‑one per cent of dentists spend at least three‑quarters of their time delivering NHS care, and 14% work exclusively in NHS settings. However, the proportion working wholly or predominantly in private practice continues to grow.

Theresa Thorp, Executive Director of Regulation at the GDC, said the expanding dataset is becoming increasingly valuable for understanding workforce trends. She noted that the information offers important insights into working hours, practice settings, employment arrangements and the balance between NHS and private provision. She added that the findings will support strategic planning by health services, governments and dental providers, helping ensure patients receive the care they need.

The GDC says it will continue publishing working patterns data annually as part of its wider efforts to support long‑term workforce planning. The full data tables and summary are available on the GDC’s website.

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