The gross remuneration paid to providers of national health service dental services covers both the practice expenses incurred in providing services and the dentists' net income. For the financial year 2005-06, the average NHS income for general dental services dentists in England and Wales with a reasonable commitment to the NHS was estimated at £76,500 in net terms, plus £88,500 to cover practice expenses. Dentists' gross contract values were increased by 3 per cent. from April 2006 as recommended by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.
Average net earnings in the current year, 2006-07, will also be affected by any change in the relative level of practice expenses. The Department has made available £100 million over the two-year period 2006-07 and 2007-08 to support capital investment in dental practices.