Written question WQ88670

In April 2022 a variation of the General Dental Services (GDS) contract was offered to practices. Practices were able to opt-in to the new ‘dental reform’ contract variation or continue with the original 2006 UDA model.

The dental reform contract variation uses metrics that were adopted and tested throughout the pandemic. These metrics focus on providing preventive dental care and appropriate treatment based on need for a set number of historic and new patients based on the size of their contract.

The metrics measured in reform practices are:

· Providing appropriate services for 5 new patients per week £177,650 of annual contract value

· Application of fluoride varnish for at least 80% children over the age of 3 and 80% of adults who are considered moderate or high risk for dental disease

· Supply of dental services to historic patients of the practice; 1280 per £177,650 of annual contract value. This includes the completion of a clinical assessment of the patient’s risk and need.

· Following the NICE guidelines, which recommends appropriate recall intervals for patients based on clinical need.

By achieving these metrics, the practice would be considered to have successfully delivered their contractual obligations for the year.