In 2026, most dental practices struggle to recruit dentists not because of a shortage of candidates, but because their roles are not competitive enough in terms of UDA rate, private earning potential, or overall setup and because they rely on job boards instead of engaging candidates directly.
The Reality of the UK Dental Recruitment Market
Honestly, people need to stop saying we have a shortage of dentists, trust me there are dentists in the market.
But the good ones are -
already working
selective about where they move
not actively applying
This means visibility isn’t the issue access is.
The 3 Main Reasons Dentist Roles Don’t Convert
UDA Rates Are Below Market
This is very location specific but the less populated your location is the stronger your UDA offer needs to be. This can be anything from city locations £13.50 per UDA to rural/less populated £14.50 plus per UDA.
Private Earning Potential Isn’t Competitive
Typical expectations in 2026 -
City / high population areas: 40–45%
Rural / harder-to-fill locations: 45–50%
If this isn’t aligned, interest drops quickly.
The Practice Setup Doesn’t Attract Candidates
Dentists assess -
clinical freedom (Massive Factor)
digital setup
support team (Massive Factor)
diary structure
Why Job Boards Alone Are No Longer Working
Most strong candidates -
aren’t applying
aren’t browsing
are open, but passive
What Actually Works in 2026
Conversation-Led Recruitment
Direct conversations with candidates already in the market.
Headhunting Targeted Candidates
Reaching out to specific individuals that match the role.
Leveraging Dental Networks
Using existing relationships and referrals within dentistry.
Reach out to an niche recruitment partner (just like us)
Why You’re Struggling to Recruit?
If you’re struggling to recruit, it usually comes down to a combination of things to include -
UDA rate
private %
overall setup
approach to candidates
If you would like expert support from an dentistry specific recruitment partner drop us a call.