Pay for dentists

The profit of dental practices varies according to the services they provide for their patients and the way they choose to provide these services.

Most dental practice dentists are self employed.

Dentists in training

Newly qualified dentists who want to work in the NHS must undertake dental foundation training for one year. From 1 April 2024 the annual salary is £40,776.  This allowance is set through the Primary Dental Services Statement of Financial Entitlements Directions issued annually by the Department of Health and Social Care. 

After completing their dental foundation training, dentists can either choose to work in a dental practice or enter dental core training.

Dental core trainees earn a basic salary between £49,909 and £61,825. In addition, they are paid for any hours over 40 per week that they work. If they are required to work at night, at the weekend, or on-call, they will receive a 37% enhancement for working nights, a weekend allowance for working at the weekend, and an availability allowance if they are required to be available on-call. They may additionally be paid other pay premia, for example if they enter dental specialty training and qualify for an oral and maxillofacial flexible pay premia. Dental specialty trainees earn a basic salary between £61,825 and £70,425.

Salaried dentists

Salaried dentists employed by the NHS, working mainly with community dental services, earn a basic salary of between £50,512 and £108,038.

Consultants

Consultants in dental specialties are paid on the same scales as other hospital consultants and from 1 March 2024, earn a basic salary of between £99,532 and £131,964 per year dependent on years of seniority in the consultant grade. Local Clinical Excellence Awards and national Clinical Impact Awards (previously Clinical Excellence Awards) may be awarded subject to meeting the necessary criteria.

For further information, visit the NHS Employers website