Distribution of UDAs among dentists in an English PCT

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between NHS earnings and UDAs among dentists in an English Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Method: Analysis of standardised data on earnings, list size and non-orthodontic treatment UDAs provided by the Dental Practice Board for England and Wales (DPB) relating to the period 1/10/04-30/9/05. Contracts that commenced or terminated in the reference period, prison dentists and those restricted to orthodontics were excluded from analysis.

Results: The mean (±SD) earnings (Pounds Sterling, 2005/6 prices) relating to 37 contracts (dentists) was 60,362 (±45,361) ranging from 3,368 to 157,301; total earnings was 2.23M. The mean (±SD) non-orthodontic earnings per -5% adjusted UDA was 18.63 (±2.21) ranging from 14.16 to 23.43. For adult and child non-orthodontic treatment earnings and respective treatment UDAs the figures were 14.93 (±3.09) and 7.67 (±1.50). Child earnings correlated well with child UDAs (r2 = 0.90), as did adult earnings with adult UDAs (r2 = 0.98). There were outlying contracts, reflecting significant variation in earnings per UDA, which were linked to differing patterns of care and possibly the degree to which non-intervention child contacts were reported.

Conclusions: Whilst historical earnings and UDAs were closely associated, the presence of outlying contracts demonstrated the importance of allowing for other factors such as degree of private provision, stability of patient base and treatment philosophy. UDAs are a contract currency that is difficult to compare between dentists