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Dentistry: Training

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 19 June 2026UIN 10028

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has assessed the potential merits of establishing new dental schools in areas with persistent shortages of NHS dentists.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock

We have recently announced that two new dental schools, in Portsmouth and East Anglia, have each been allocated 25 new dental school places. These new dental schools are located in areas that previously did not have Government-funded dental training places. This increase means that England will have 859 funded dental school places from 2027/28, supported by an additional £11 million per year once the expansion is fully implemented.

Allocating dental training places is a statutory responsibility of the independent Office for Students.

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