NHS Dentistry is changing. The Welsh government has announced proposed reforms to NHS dental services in Wales, which will begin in April 2026.
These changes mean that there will be: No formal patient registration.
You will cease to be registered at a dental practice. Instead, once your oral health is considered stable by your dentist, you will be referred to an online central dental access portal, and an appointment will be issued to you with an available dentist in your area when it is time for your next check-up in 18 to 24 months.
This means you may not be seen by the same dentist or dental practice again.
Dentists are worried that due to capacity restraints, there will be limited availability at recall. Therefore, routine prevention appointments, currently every 6 months, might be extended beyond the current recommended timeframes of 18-24 months.
Dentists are also worried that this rotating care model, where you may be assigned to a different dental practice for your next course of treatment, could affect continuity of care and affect the opportunity to build long-term trust with a single dentist and dental practice.
Dentists believe this could well signal the end of the High Street family dental practice.
At present, there is no provision for sharing notes or X-rays between practices, which may impact continuity of personalised care. Moreover, no additional funding has been announced, and without increased investment from the Welsh government, expanding access to new patients could lead to reduced availability for those currently receiving care.
Treatment fees will need to be paid online after each appointment before you can access any further appointments. Any treatment fees for paying patients will likely increase under the new model.
I'm keen to hear your thoughts on these changes and have created a short survey below, which I would be grateful if you could complete.
A consultation is also currently underway and is a critical opportunity for everyone, patients, dental teams and community members to contribute feedback and help shape and NHS dental service. I highly recommend that you get involved and make your voice heard by participating in this consultation, which can be found here: