Statistics have been published by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for the year 2024/25 – showing encouraging recovery post-COVID within NHS dental services.
As published in The Probe, the report reveals that 35 million courses of treatment (COT) were delivered in 2024/25. This is a 4% increase on the previous year, representing a steady recovery in services.
In particular, child patient treatments saw strong growth, with a 7% increase in COT – up to 12 million. Adult patient treatments also rose to 23 million – an increase of 2%.
40% of England’s adult population (18 million people) received NHS dental care between April 2023 and March 2025. 6.9 million children were also seen between April 2024 and March 2025, representing 57% of the child population.
Further to this, the dental workforce has seen an expansion, with 24,543 dentists now providing NHS services in England, rising by 1.4% on the previous year.
The report showed that 73 million units of dental activity were delivered. Band 1 treatments (such as check-ups, examinations, x-rays, and preventive advice) accounted for 29% of UDAs delivered and 60% of COT – with 10% of COT urgent.
Whilst these figures represent positive steps, the BDA highlights the need for urgency and ambition to fix NHS dentistry. It notes that capacity is below pre-COVID norms, and is still far from meeting demand.
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