Dental patient registrations fall to just under one million
Date published:
New accredited official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in Business Services Organisation present figures for dental services in Northern Ireland for quarter 3 2025/26.
Key findings
- Patient registrations stood at 952,842 in Q3 2025/26, down 0.5% from the previous quarter and down 17.1% compared to the same quarter last year.
- Dentist headcount fell to 1,189, a decrease of 1.3% on the previous quarter and 1.7% lower than the same period last year. These dentists work across 354 dental practices.
- Treatment activity showed quarterly increases but significant year-on-year declines:
- Fillings: 139,680 (up 7.1% on previous quarter, but down 12.3% year-on-year)
- Extractions: 31,644 (up 7.3% on previous quarter, but down 9.1% year-on-year)
- X-Rays: 145,918 (up 6.6% on previous quarter, but down 11.1% year-on-year)
- Crowns: 3,357 (up 2.2% on previous quarter, but down 23.0% year-on-year)
- Treatment claims totalled 253,543, an increase of 7.7% on the previous quarter but down 5.5% compared with the same quarter last year.
- Item of Service treatment fees paid amounted to £17,950,000, up 8.5% on the previous quarter but down 3.5% year-on-year.
About this publication
The full report provides quarterly data on dental services in Northern Ireland, including patient registrations, treatment figures (fillings, extractions, X-rays and crowns) by demographics and geography, claims submitted and paid, fees paid, and patients treated, headcount of dentists and number of dental practices by area.
These figures are provisional and may be revised in the annual report. This is an Accredited Official Statistics publication, independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation.
Further information
Read the full report: Dental Services for Northern Ireland, Quarterly Series to Q3 2025/26 - Provisional
View data tables and background information: General Dental Services Statistics