From April, around 25 extra pilot sites are to be added to the existing 70 dental practices that have been trialling new ways of working.
The extra sites will help fine tune different parts of the new contract that will see dentists paid for the number of patients they care for ‘and the health results they produce’ rather than the number of courses of treatment they perform.
The ‘care pathway’ approach offers dentists guidance on treatment for their patients depending on their oral health. It will form a significant part in making sure practices are delivering quality care when the new contract is rolled out.
Findings from the early pilots, published today, show how dentists are putting a firm focus on more preventative dental care.
Barry Cockcroft, Chief Dental Officer for England said:
“I am delighted the pilot scheme has been received so positively by dentists and a lot of excellent work has been carried out so far.
“We have worked closely with the sites and know some of the elements being tested need fine tuning.
“Making sure the new dental contract is fully tested and fit for the future is a vital part of our plans to modernise the NHS and the pilots have a key role to play.”
Some of the pilot sites are also trialling a new self-care plan based on a traffic light system. This gives patients a rating of green, amber or red following an oral health assessment. They are then given advice on how to improve their dental health in the long term.
Read:
- Dental contract reform programme: Proposals for stage 2 piloting
- NHS dental contract pilots – Early findings: A report by the dental contract pilots evidence and learning reference group
- Dental contract reform pilots evaluation: Research report for the Department of Health by ICM
- Dental contract reform pilots evaluation: Research report for the Department of Health by ICM – Annex staff survey
- Dental contract reform pilots evaluation: Research report for the Department of Health by ICM – Annex patient survey
- Letter from the Chief Dental Officer: Reform of the NHS Dental Contract in England – next phase of piloting
- Letter from the Director of the dental contract reform programme to SHAs: Reform of the NHS Dental Contract in England – next phase of piloting
- Letter from the Director of the dental contract reform programme to current pilots: Reform of the NHS Dental Contract in England – next phase of piloting