According to a new survey of primary healthcare providers in the UK, confidence amongst dentists has increased by 18% in the last six months.

The latest Lloyds TSB Commercial Healthcare Confidence Index also found that the number of dentists unwilling to take on NHS work has decreased by a fifth in the last nine months; two-thirds of dentists were not at all confident of the changes to the way NHS dental contracts are funded; and appetite towards future premises ownership has increased by a fifth in the last six months.

Almost all (96%) of dental practitioners said they were aiming to either retain or increase the number of chairs in their practice over the next five years.

Despite an overall rise in confidence in the last six months, increased financial pressures are set to impact on the dental sector, with over three-quarters (77%) of practitioners saying that they expect to see these concerns increase in the next five years.

To take part in the next Healthcare Confidence Index visit www.healthcareconfidenceindex.co.uk.