The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed that the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) for 2026 will be £698 for dentists and £108 for dental care professionals (DCPs).
The Council has agreed the Corporate Strategy 2026-2028, their strategic priorities and the funding required to deliver them.
The GDC received and has considered welcome feedback from dental professionals and stakeholders from its 12-week public consultation on the strategy over the summer.
The regulator has listened to feedback within the profession and the need for modernisation and reform. Council has considered the funding required to continue to modernise and improve efficiency.
The GDC has committed to deliver an additional 7% efficiency savings over the next five years, including savings from modernising registration processes and more effective use of estates.
Tom Whiting, Chief Executive and Registrar of the GDC, said: “Our vision is to be a trusted and effective regulator, supporting dental professionals to provide safe and effective care for their patients. We have a clear delivery plan to achieve our strategic ambitions and remain committed to protecting the public and maintaining public confidence in the dental professions.
“We will provide transparency about the work we do to deliver our strategic ambitions and will measure and report on our progress. Council has approved the investment needed to achieve this transformation whilst considering affordability for dental professionals.”
The GDC will adjust the ARF as needed from 2027 onwards. Other than in exceptional circumstances, any increase will not exceed the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Dr Helen Phillips, Chair of the GDC, said: “Over the next few years, I am committed to nurturing relationships built on trust and support. Council’s priority is public protection by working with and through dental professionals.
“By 2030, I want the GDC to be recognised as living by our values of transparency, respect, inclusion and purposefulness. We will be recognised as a regulator that operates with greater effectiveness across all our functions and works collaboratively as a valued partner across the sector.”
BDA responds
The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to news of over 12% increases in General Dental Council Annual Retention Fees for dentists, stressing that, when the workforce is under such unprecedented financial pressure, the regulator must demonstrate the value of every additional pound raised.
BDA chair Eddie Crouch said: “Increases come when at a time when every dentist is under pressure from the mounting cost of care. Our regulator needs to justify how it uses every penny from a bill registrants have no choice but pay.”
