Dental income, spending, and access in the UK are moving in noticeably different directions. In England, average gross earnings for NHS dentists hit £78,900 in 2022/23 while NHS waiting lists reached 8.2 million by mid 2023, and private check up fees averaged £52 in 2023 up 8% from 2022. We pulled together the latest figures on market size, practice economics, patient volumes, and workforce trends to show where demand is rising and where the strain is still building.
Key Takeaways
- Average gross earnings for NHS dentists in England was £78,900 in 2022/23
- Private dental fees for check-ups averaged £52 in 2023, up 8% from 2022
- Total NHS dental expenditure per patient was £126 in 2022/23
- In 2022, the UK dental market was valued at £8.5 billion, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2017-2022
- NHS dental contract values totalled £3.1 billion in 2022/23, representing 37% of total dental expenditure
- Private dental spending in the UK reached £5.4 billion in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
- 24.6 million NHS dental patients seen in England in 2022/23
- 41% of adults in UK visited a dentist in the last year as of 2023, down from 60% pre-pandemic
- Waiting lists for NHS dental care reached 8.2 million in England by mid-2023
- Number of dental practices in England was 10,284 in 2023
- 72% of UK dental practices offer both NHS and private services in 2023
- Average number of dental chairs per practice in UK is 3.2 in 2023
- UK dental market projected to reach £11.2 billion by 2028 at 4.8% CAGR
- Digital dentistry adoption expected to cover 60% of practices by 2027
- Teledentistry consultations projected to increase 25% annually to 2028
Rising private costs and NHS waitlists continue to reshape a growing UK dental market, with £78,900 average NHS earnings in 2022/23.
Related reading
01 · Category
Financial Metrics15 stats
01
Average gross earnings for NHS dentists in England was £78,900 in 2022/23
02
Private dental fees for check-ups averaged £52 in 2023, up 8% from 2022
03
Total NHS dental expenditure per patient was £126 in 2022/23
04
45% of dental practice costs are staff-related in 2023, averaging £250,000 per practice
05
Dental indemnity insurance costs rose 12% to £8,500 average in 2023
06
Net earnings for principal dentists £112,000 average 2022/23
07
Lab fees account for 9% of practice expenses at £42,000 avg 2023
08
Patient charges for NHS Band 2 treatments £70.70 in 2023/24
09
52% of practices report profit margins below 15% in 2023
10
Equipment investment per practice £25,000 annually 2023
11
Associate dentists earnings £65,400 avg 2022/23
12
Premises costs 18% of expenses £85,000 avg 2023
13
NHS Band 3 charge £306.80 in 2023/24
14
60% practices increased fees by 5-10% in 2023
15
Marketing spend £4,500 per practice avg 2023
Interpretation
Financial Metrics Interpretation
Financially, the UK dental sector is under pressure from rising input costs and fees, with dental indemnity insurance up 12% to an £8,500 average in 2023 and staff-related costs making up 45% of practice spending, even as NHS gross earnings averaged £78,900 in 2022/23.
02 · Category
Market Size And Growth16 stats
01
In 2022, the UK dental market was valued at £8.5 billion, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2017-2022
02
NHS dental contract values totalled £3.1 billion in 2022/23, representing 37% of total dental expenditure
03
Private dental spending in the UK reached £5.4 billion in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
04
The orthodontics segment of the UK dental market is projected to grow to £1.2 billion by 2028 at 5.1% CAGR
05
Cosmetic dentistry market in UK valued at £2.3 billion in 2023, driven by veneers and whitening
06
UK dental market valued at £9.1 billion in 2023 with 3.8% YoY growth
07
Implant dentistry segment grew 6.2% to £850 million in 2023
08
Paediatric dentistry market share 12% of total UK dental spend in 2023
09
Endodontics procedures generated £1.1 billion revenue in 2022
10
Prosthodontics market to hit £950 million by 2025
11
Periodontics services valued at £650 million in UK 2023
12
UK dental exports reached £450 million in 2022
13
Whitening services generated £450m revenue 2023
14
Oral care products market £1.65 billion in 2023
15
Sedation dentistry niche £180m valuation 2023
16
Aligners market £320m growing 12% YoY 2023
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
The UK dental market is expanding steadily, reaching £9.1 billion in 2023 with 3.8% year over year growth, while private spending rose to £5.4 billion in 2023 and orthodontics is expected to hit £1.2 billion by 2028 at 5.1% CAGR, signaling durable market size and growth under this category.
03 · Category
Patient Demographics And Access14 stats
01
24.6 million NHS dental patients seen in England in 2022/23
02
41% of adults in UK visited a dentist in the last year as of 2023, down from 60% pre-pandemic
03
Waiting lists for NHS dental care reached 8.2 million in England by mid-2023
04
15% of UK children aged 5 had experienced tooth extraction due to decay in 2022
05
22.1 million adult patients accessed NHS dentistry in 2021/22
06
25% increase in emergency dental appointments in 2023 vs 2019
07
7.5 million on waiting lists for routine NHS dental care in 2024
08
19% of 12-year-olds in England have active decay 2022
09
Ethnic minorities represent 28% of dental patients but 42% unmet needs 2023
10
14 million child patients seen NHS 2022/23
11
Rural access gaps 30% higher than urban 2023
12
11% edentulous adults over 65 in England 2022
13
Fluoride varnish applications 5.2m in 2022/23
14
Low-income groups 2x more likely no dentist access 2023
Interpretation
Patient Demographics And Access Interpretation
Access to NHS and dental care has tightened for many groups, with only 41% of UK adults visiting a dentist in the last year as of 2023 and England’s NHS dental waiting list growing to 8.2 million by mid 2023 despite a 25% rise in emergency appointments in 2023 versus 2019.
More related reading
04 · Category
Practice And Facility Data15 stats
01
Number of dental practices in England was 10,284 in 2023
02
72% of UK dental practices offer both NHS and private services in 2023
03
Average number of dental chairs per practice in UK is 3.2 in 2023
04
1,450 specialist dental practices in UK as of 2022, focused on orthodontics and oral surgery
05
85% of dental practices in Scotland are single-handed in 2023
06
10,512 dental practices across UK in 2022
07
68% of practices in Wales are mixed NHS/private 2023
08
Average practice turnover £450,000 in England 2023
09
1,200 corporate-owned dental practices in UK 2023, up 15%
10
78% of practices equipped with digital X-rays in 2023
11
Northern Ireland has 1,450 practices for 1.9m pop 2023
12
CBCT scanners in 32% of practices 2023
13
Average UDAs per performer 4,200 in 2022/23
14
Mobile dental units number 250 across UK 2023
15
91% practices computerised records 2023
Interpretation
Practice And Facility Data Interpretation
In the UK’s practice and facility landscape, dentistry is dominated by mixed provision and small setups, with 72% of practices offering both NHS and private services in 2023 and an average of just 3.2 dental chairs per practice.
05 · Category
Trends And Future Projections15 stats
01
UK dental market projected to reach £11.2 billion by 2028 at 4.8% CAGR
02
Digital dentistry adoption expected to cover 60% of practices by 2027
03
Teledentistry consultations projected to increase 25% annually to 2028
04
Sustainable dental materials use to rise to 40% by 2030 per BDA goals
05
AI in diagnostics expected in 35% of UK practices by 2026
06
Preventive care market to grow 7% to £2.8 billion by 2027
07
3D printing in dentistry to reach 50% adoption by 2028
08
Vegan dental products demand up 18% in 2023
09
Robotic surgery in oral maxillofacial projected £150m by 2030
10
Home whitening kits sales £120m in 2023
11
Regenerative dentistry market £250m by 2030 proj
12
Intra-oral scanners 45% adoption by 2026
13
Antimicrobial products growth 9% CAGR to 2028
14
Direct-to-consumer orthodontics £50m sales 2023
15
Tele-dentistry platforms 1.2m consultations 2023
Interpretation
Trends And Future Projections Interpretation
Under the Trends And Future Projections lens, the UK dental sector is set for fast modernization and growth, with the market forecast to reach £11.2 billion by 2028 at a 4.8% CAGR as digital dentistry reaches 60% of practices by 2027 and AI diagnostics moves into 35% of practices by 2026.
06 · Category
Workforce Statistics16 stats
01
Total number of registered dentists in UK was 54,112 as of December 2023
02
41% of UK dentists are female as of 2023, up from 35% in 2018
03
There were 15,234 dental care professionals (hygienists/therapists) registered in 2023
04
Average age of UK dentists is 45 years in 2023, with 22% over 60
05
12,500 overseas-trained dentists registered in UK as of 2023, comprising 23% of total
06
55,428 dentists registered with GDC at end-2022
07
14,892 dental hygienists and therapists registered in 2022
08
42.3% female dentists in UK workforce 2022
09
11,200 EU-trained dentists practicing in UK post-Brexit 2023
10
Average working hours for UK dentists 34.5 per week in 2023
11
9,876 dental nurses registered newly in 2023
12
56,213 total dentists registered end-2023
13
Dental technicians registrations 6,543 in 2023
14
25% of dentists plan to retire by 2028
15
Overseas registrations up 20% to 4,500 in 2023
16
Part-time working dentists 38% of workforce 2023
Interpretation
Workforce Statistics Interpretation
Workforce trends in the UK dental sector show a rapidly diversifying and ageing workforce, with 41% of the 54,112 registered dentists in December 2023 being female and 22% already over 60 as of 2023.
report visual · Comparison
UK dental industry: growth and demand signals
The market is growing while pressures on access and utilization continue.
24.6 million NHS dental patients seen in England in 2022/2324.6
Waiting lists for NHS dental care reached 8.2 million in England by mid-2023
8.2
Private dental spending in the UK reached £5.4 billion in 2023, up 4.5% from 2022
4.5%
UK dental market valued at £9.1 billion in 2023 with 3.8% YoY growth
3.8%
Reference
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Uk Dental Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-dental-industry-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Uk Dental Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uk-dental-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Uk Dental Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uk-dental-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level