Only 40% of your patients need to say yes.
The State of NHS Conversion 2026 – the first report built entirely from real conversion outcomes.
Not assumptions. Not modelled projections. Real data from what actually happened when practices like yours made the move. Launching at the Dentistry Show in Birmingham on Friday 15th May – register below, and your copy will land in your inbox the moment it goes live.
- 40%
- of NHS patients need to say yes to a plan
- 2 months
- the average time to reach your plan-patient target
- 17yr high
- Q1 2026 our strongest ever quarter
- 700+
- dental practices supported by PPD UK-wide
The NHS dental contract is broken
The evidence is no longer anecdotal. The numbers are in, and they tell a story that every NHS dental practice owner needs to understand before July 2026:
£900m returned
This is the amount of NHS clawback in just two years – one pound in every seven paid to NHS dentists came back. The BDA called it the result of ‘chronic underfunding, with dentists now losing money delivering NHS care.’
April 2026 – Reform
The most significant NHS dental contract changes in a generation take effect. For practices in England, the window to act runs through to the end of July. The decision can no longer be deferred.
30% growth
This is the increase in NHS conversion enquiries we have received in Q1 ’26 compared to Q1 ’25, as reform uncertainty turns passive concern into active consideration.
12 day record
That is the fastest time a PPD-supported practice has reached its plan-patient target during a conversion. The average? Seven weeks – and falling year on year as processes, patient behaviour, and confidence all improve.
Built from real conversions, across real practices
Built from years of real conversions, across real practices. As part of the Agilio Software group, we have analysed years of real outcomes of NHS-to-private conversion outcomes. Not assumptions. Not modelled projections. What actually happened across hundreds of UK dental practices.
The Conversion Surge
Year-on-year enquiry data showing how reform has accelerated the move away from NHS dentistry – and what it means for practices considering conversion today.
The Real Timeline
From 11 to 7 weeks – how the average time to reach plan-patient target has improved, and what this means for practices that have been putting off the decision.
What Patients Actually Do
Data on patient sign-up rates after conversion, and why the fear of losing patients is consistently – and significantly – greater than the reality.
Full or Phased Conversion?
70% of conversions are full-practice. 30% take a phased approach. Then, 1/3 of those complete a full conversion within two years. It’s important to understand which path is right for your practice.
The Conversion Confidence Calculator
How many of your patients need to say yes for conversion to work commercially?
Patient Plan Direct’s new calculator gives you a clear, practice-specific answer.
My NHS Conversion Success
“ We wanted to deliver high-quality dentistry and have a viable business. Work-life balance had been missing for some time… our NHS conversion changed everything. ”
More NHS-to-Private Case Studies
Real dentists and real experiences – see below to hear about other practices that reached their patient target in a matter of weeks.
Book your conversion consultation
A no-obligation consultation provides a more detailed, practice-specific view, mapping out what conversion could look like based on your structure, patient base and overall goals. Complete the details below and a member of the team will be in touch to arrange a time to talk more about your practice.
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