Recent headlines say that £900 million meant for NHS dentistry has been returned to the government over the past two years.
For many people, this is confusing.
If it is so hard to get an NHS dentist appointment, how can so much money go unused?
The answer lies in how NHS dentistry in England works.
What is a “clawback”?
NHS dental practices work under contracts with the NHS. These contracts set a target for how much treatment a practice must provide each year.
Dentists measure this work using Units of Dental Activity (UDAs). This system has been in place since 2006.
If a practice delivers less than about 96% of its yearly target, the NHS can take back some of the money. This is called “clawback.”
Recent figures suggest:
About £480 million was returned in 2023–24.
About £450 million was returned in 2024–25.
Together, that is around £900 million returned to the government over two years.
Why these figures mat… Source by Oral Health Foundation Read More
