In the latest open council meeting on the 31st October, the General Dental Council announced that the ARF will be increased for both dentists and the wider dental team. To read the full announcement, please follow the link below.
https://www.gdc-uk.org/news-blogs/news/detail/2025/10/31/gdc-announces-annual-retention-fee-for-2026
The Society is disappointed with this decision and will continue to ask the GDC to review this fairly and proportionately and to implement the CPD categories in terms of ARF levels. Dental nurses notoriously earn lower salaries than other members of the dental team and yet they are expected to pay the same ARF. Equally, dental nurses clinically have a very narrow scope of practice and are unlikely to take part in irreversible treatments, other than when assisting clinicians and infrequently undertake autonomous activities.
Dental nurses are unlikely to see any uplift in their salary to navigate this increase, and despite continually hearing from gatekeepers that employers pay the ARF for the team, our members tell us a very different story. We would like our members to contact us with their thoughts admin@bdns.org.uk