Experts call for NHS dental contracts reform to prioritise prevention

Capturing insights from oral health professionals across the UK in focus groups, the report developed by the College of General Dentistry and Haleon offers insight-driven recommendations on tackling the gap between the intentions of oral health professionals to provide preventative oral healthcare and the practical delivery of this care.

The research found that oral health professionals seek redesigned NHS contracts to allow for more time and financial support in giving preventative oral care advice. It also calls for more resources to provide consistent and straightforward nationwide preventative oral healthcare education to improve knowledge about healthy oral health habits while tackling misinformation from sources such as social media.