Employment guide for salaried dental staff
Access the terms and conditions of service and model contracts for salaried dental staff. The TCS have applied since 2008 and include a structure for pay, career development and job planning. There are also details and guidance for appraisals.
The terms and conditions of service for salaried primary care dental services are negotiated between NHS Employers and the British Dental Association. We are seeking additional employer representatives for this team.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us.
The current terms and conditions have applied since 1 April 2008 to dentists in the NHS in England. The contract includes a structure for pay and career development which includes the following key elements:
- A single pay spine with three competency pay bands covering the following groups: dentists, senior dentists, specialist dentists and managerial dentists.
- Each pay band is split into six pay points and the dentist will need to demonstrate the competencies for the post to move through the band.
- The pay structure is supported by mandatory annual appraisals and job planning to support salaried dentists' career development.
Contractual documents
- Salaried dental terms and conditions of service version 3 published June 2024. (PDF)
- Model contract for salaried dentists version 4 published June 2024. (Word)
- Salaried dental terms and conditions of service record of amendments. (PDF)
- Salaried dental model contract record of amendment. (PDF)
Salaried dental FAQs
Our frequently asked questions document for salaried dentists includes information on the appeals process, indicative training allowance, job planning and appraisal, roles and competences, service complexity, terms and conditions and assimilation.
Appraisals for salaried dentists including information for COVID-19
Guidance on appraisal was agreed in 2007 as part of the move to the new contract. It has been refreshed in 2024 to enable a return to standard appraisals from the ‘light touch’ approach to medical appraisals that was in place temporarily during COVID-19.
Use our guidance documents on appraisals (PDF) and download our template appraisal form (Word) for salaried dentists.