Key facts: Plymouth
- Plymouth: NHS treatments delivered in 2024/25
- 97,838
- Change since 2019/20
- -39.8% (England -8.8%)
- Adult NHS access, two years to March 2025
- 23.2% (England 39.8%)
- Children seen in 12 months to March 2025
- 43.6% (England 56.9%)
- NHS practices in the PL postcode area
- 45, median 7,327 UDAs
- Dentists with NHS activity per 100,000, Devon
- 42.8 (England 42.1)
- Holds the NHS contracts
- NHS Devon ICB
Source: NHS Business Services Authority, Dental Statistics for England 2024/25. Rankings compare 36 English towns and cities.
How much NHS dentistry Plymouth delivers
In 2023/24 Plymouth practices delivered 102,978 NHS courses; in 2024/25 it was 97,838, 5.0% fewer, and 39.8% below the 2019/20 level of 162,557. Per head, that works out at 360 courses for every 1,000 people living in Plymouth (36th of 36 places we compared), set against 431 in Exeter and 608 in Bristol.
Neighbouring areas moved differently: Exeter lost 39.7% and Bristol lost 14.7% against 2019/20.
Band 3 work (crowns, bridges, dentures) was only 2.5% of courses, under England's 3.7%. Complex work may be going private or out of area, a point to test in due diligence. Paying adults accounted for 49.9% of courses, close to England's 50.7%.
How many Plymouth patients see an NHS dentist
51,133 adults in Plymouth saw an NHS dentist in the 24 months to 31 March 2025, 23.2% of adults and 16.6 points below England. That ranks 35th of 36; nearby, Exeter was at 34.9% and Bristol was at 38.0%.
22,734 children were seen in 12 months, 43.6% (13.3 points below England), 36th of 36 on this measure.
Access this far below average usually reflects limited NHS capacity, not low demand. That can support private or mixed growth, but a lender lends on income already earned, so build the plan on the practice's actual figures.
Recruiting dentists around Plymouth
NHS Devon ICB had 528 dentists with NHS activity in 2024/25, 42.8 per 100,000 people (England 42.1), 12.9% fewer than in 2019/20. In the year 58 joined NHS work in the ICB and 40 left, a net gain of 18. For comparison, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire had 48.5 per 100,000. The same ICB also commissions dentistry in Exeter. See Exeter for that page.
A steady workforce helps a buyer's case, because associates deliver much of an NHS contract. Review associate agreements and notice periods before you offer.
Practices in the PL postcode area
The PL postcode area had 45 sites delivering NHS dentistry in 2024/25, and half of them delivered at least 7,327 UDAs; the middle practice delivered 7,162 in Exeter (EX) and 7,282 in Bristol (BS). That median ranks 30th of 36.
Small NHS contracts usually mean private work carries the practice, so plan membership numbers and private fee history will matter as much as the contract.
Buying a practice in Plymouth
Most of a practice's price is goodwill, and lenders test it against figures like these for Plymouth: contract delivery, patient mix and staffing. Our guide to buying a dental practice sets out the steps, and goodwill finance explains how that element is funded. Run the numbers with the practice purchase loan calculator; equipment often sits better on equipment finance than in the acquisition loan.
Premises, regulation and security
In England, a dental freehold bought outright attracts Stamp Duty Land Tax on the non-residential scale, and the lender's security is a legal charge at HM Land Registry. If the building is rented, lenders read the lease closely: a short unexpired term caps the loan term.
Before completion, the CQC registration must be in the buyer's name and NHS Devon ICB must agree the contract position; dentists themselves register with the General Dental Council.
Lenders for Plymouth dental practices
Lenders for dental practices are not organised by region, so neither is our search: for Plymouth, as anywhere, we search the whole market and approach the lenders whose criteria fit. Fees depend on the lender; nothing is payable upfront.
Common questions
How many NHS dental practices are there around Plymouth?
NHS Business Services Authority data show 45 sites in the PL postcode area with NHS activity in 2024/25. Practices that only treat private patients are left out.
Is NHS dental access in Plymouth better than average?
For adults, no: 23.2% were seen in the 24 months to March 2025, against 39.8% for England. For children it was 43.6% against 56.9%.
Who holds NHS dental contracts in Plymouth?
NHS Devon ICB commissions NHS dentistry for Plymouth and also Exeter. Any sale needs its agreement on the contract.
Do you lend to Plymouth dentists?
No, we are a broker. We search the whole market for lenders that fund dental practices and present the case to them. Fees depend on the lender, and there is nothing to pay upfront.
