MyDentist Expands Private Work as NHS Dentistry Struggles

UK: A recent investigation by The Mirror has shed light on the growing crisis in NHS dentistry, with private providers like MyDentist reaping significant profits as more practices pivot to private work. The findings highlight the disparity in access to dental care and the financial implications of a system in turmoil.

A Shift Toward Private Dentistry

MyDentist, the UK’s largest dental corporation, operates over 500 practices serving more than four million patients. Its latest accounts reveal a stark shift in its revenue composition, with private dentistry now comprising 47% of its £572 million total revenue in 2024, compared to just 22% five years ago.

The company’s outgoing chief executive, Tom Riall, stated last year: “Our private revenues are growing faster than ever, and a record number of clinicians are choosing to join our practices.” Meanwhile, NHS revenue for the firm has decreased by 16% (33% after adjusting for inflation) over the same period.

Financial Growth Amid Access Challenges

The investigation also found significant financial rewards for MyDentist’s leadership. Nilesh Pandya, the company’s chief executive, received £1.2 million in 2024, up from £976,000 the previous year. Additionally, three directors shared a £4 million bonus in 2022 following a buyout.

Despite this, the company insists it remains committed to NHS dentistry. Mr. Pandya emphasized: “We want as many people as possible to access NHS dentistry, and we’re proud that more than 200,000 new NHS patients have received an appointment with MyDentist in the last six months. There’s still much more to do so that all patients who need it can get NHS treatment.”

NHS Dentistry in Crisis

Data from the House of Commons Library paints a grim picture of NHS dental care access. Over 12 million people in England—more than one in four adults—were unable to secure NHS dental care last year. Moreover, 90% of practices are no longer accepting new NHS adult patients, and 40% of children missed their recommended annual check-up.

Campaign groups and dental professionals have pointed to systemic issues, including underfunding and outdated contracts. The UK spends the smallest proportion of its healthcare budget on dental services in Europe, with government spending on dental services in England cut by 25% in real terms from 2010 to 2020.

Dr. Tony O’Sullivan of Keep Our NHS Public remarked: “Past government policy has driven dentists into private practice and the arms of corporate parasites. Huge dental profits show private healthcare is a one-way street towards a two-tier NHS.”

Calls for Reform and Action

A growing chorus of voices is demanding urgent reforms to the NHS dental system. Labour has pledged to renegotiate the NHS contract, which currently pays dentists the same amount for performing three or 20 fillings—a system widely criticized as “not fit for purpose.” Eddie Crouch, chair of the British Dental Association, warned: “Thousands of NHS practices are struggling to remain viable. It’s the net result of working to a broken contract.”

Campaign groups like Dentists for All and Toothless in England have also called for immediate action. Mark Jones from Toothless in England urged: “The government must act now before we lose NHS dentists forever.”

Cat Hobbs, director of We Own It, described the situation as “a rapid downhill trend towards a two-tier system, where those with money get treatment, and those without reach for a pair of pliers.” She added: “Huge private providers are consolidating operations to follow the money, leaving NHS patients in dentistry deserts.”

The Path Forward

As MyDentist continues to expand its private offerings, the future of NHS dentistry remains uncertain. The company has attributed its shift toward private work to the inability of many clinicians to make the NHS contract viable. Mr. Pandya urged the government to reform NHS contracts and address recruitment challenges, noting: “The UK has fewer dentists per capita than almost any other country in Europe.”