In 2026 the LDC Confederation will start an exciting new workstream designed to introduce newer entrants to dentistry to the world of NHS dentistry.
As part of our ambition to see a sustainable, valued and accessible NHS dental service in England we want to ensure that there is accurate information available to those who want an NHS component to their dental career.
There is a lot of negativity around dentistry, and NHS dentistry in particular. Yet, in reality it is an important part of the dental economy and can provide a fulfilling and interesting aspect to a portfolio career in dental care.
We want to showcase what it means to be involved in NHS primary care dentistry and how, practically, someone can develop a career model within it. We will not shy away from the pitfalls and difficulties that an NHS component can bring, but we will place those in context and discuss why those difficulties can be worth overcoming, and how to do so.
This exciting programme is not just for associates who are thinking of buying a/into dental business which has an NHS component, whether it is big or small. It is for those who have already done so and need to be reminded that they are not alone. It is for those who have no interest in running a dental practice but who question why some decisions are made. Through our programme we hope to explain the realities of what it means to buy and run a dental business with an NHS contract so that everyone can make an informed choice about their dental career.
By bringing some of these issues into the open we hope to break down barriers and help the profession itself create a more inclusive and supportive working environment.
