Data last verified: 5 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The UK had 14,710 dental practice businesses in March 2026, up 21.2% since 2021, with London alone accounting for 2,915, or 32.0 per 100,000 residents, the most of any region.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/dentists/research/uk-dental-industry, 2026-11-05. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 6, 2026
Short answer: the UK had 14,710 dental practices registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 45.6% up on 2010 (10,105) and 21.2% up on 2021 (12,140). 79.4% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 32.0 per 100,000 residents; North East has the fewest, 13.0.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply to the trade, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Dental practices (UK, SIC 86230) | 14,710 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +45.6% (from 10,105) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +21.2% (from 12,140) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 11,685 (79.4%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 15 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | London, 32.0 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | North East, 13.0 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
How big are dental practices?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 11,685 | 79.4% |
| 10 to 49 | 2,960 | 20.1% |
| 50 to 249 | 50 | 0.3% |
| 250 or more | 15 | 0.1% |
| Total | 14,710 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 86230 “Dental practice activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where dental practices are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,580 | 2,300 | 2,915 | 32.0 | +84.5% | +26.7% |
| South East | 1,565 | 1,850 | 2,145 | 22.1 | +37.1% | +15.9% |
| South West | 850 | 1,010 | 1,230 | 20.8 | +44.7% | +21.8% |
| North West | 1,140 | 1,225 | 1,560 | 20.1 | +36.8% | +27.3% |
| West Midlands | 825 | 980 | 1,220 | 19.7 | +47.9% | +24.5% |
| East of England | 920 | 1,080 | 1,285 | 19.4 | +39.7% | +19.0% |
| East Midlands | 590 | 725 | 985 | 19.4 | +66.9% | +35.9% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 730 | 835 | 1,055 | 18.6 | +44.5% | +26.3% |
| Wales | 440 | 495 | 590 | 18.6 | +34.1% | +19.2% |
| Scotland | 805 | 975 | 1,020 | 18.4 | +26.7% | +4.6% |
| Northern Ireland | 335 | 340 | 350 | 18.1 | +4.5% | +2.9% |
| North East | 325 | 320 | 360 | 13.0 | +10.8% | +12.5% |
| United Kingdom | 10,105 | 12,140 | 14,710 | 21.2 | +45.6% | +21.2% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- London has about 2.5 times as many per head as North East (32.0 against 13.0 per 100,000 residents).
- Fastest growth since 2010: London (+84.5%). Slowest: Northern Ireland (+4.5%).
- Every region has more businesses than in 2021.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
Every dentist, dental nurse, hygienist and other dental professional working in the UK must be on the General Dental Council (GDC) register. After the 2026 renewal the register held 47,022 dentists (GDC, 19 January 2026).
In England, dental practices must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
NHS dentistry: 25,419 dentists delivered NHS activity in England in 2025/26. 18.8 million adults (about 40%) and 7.17 million children (about 60%) were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 months to the end of the year (NHS Dental Statistics for England 2025/26, NHSBSA, published 27 August 2026).
What Whito’s research adds
<strong>Teeth whitening is a mixed market.</strong> In July 2026 Whito checked 28 UK businesses advertising tooth whitening. 20 were not dental practices, and none of those 20 named a GDC-registered professional or published a GDC number. See Teeth whitening and the GDC register.
Whito-measured figures are collected in UK dentist statistics.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the trade. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 86230, all legal statuses, March 2026 snapshot, with 2010 and 2021 for comparison, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 5 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Common questions
How many dental practices are there in the UK?
14,710 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 86230).
Is the number of dental practices growing?
It rose 21.2% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 45.6% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most dental practices?
By number, London (2,915). Per head, London, with 32.0 per 100,000 residents.
Are most dental practices small?
Yes. 11,685 of 14,710 (79.4%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 5 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- GDC news (19 Jan 2026): https://www.gdc-uk.org/news-blogs/news/detail/2026/01/19/gdc-register-increases-to-over-47-000-dentists
- NHSBSA, Dental Statistics England 2025/26 (27 Aug 2026): https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/dental-england/dental-statistics-england-202526
- CQC, using CQC data (updated 3 Nov 2026): https://cqc.org.uk/about-us/transparency/using-cqc-data
If your business is named here and you think we have a fact wrong, email hello@whito.co.uk and we will check it and correct it. If you want to respond, send us a statement and we will publish it alongside. Full detail: Corrections, right of reply and removals.
