What Are UDAs in NHS Dental Practices?
UDA stands for Unit of Dental Activity — the currency used by the NHS to measure and fund dental treatments under General Dental Services (GDS) contracts in England and Wales.
Each UDA corresponds to a band of treatment:
| Band | Treatment Scope | UDA Value |
| Band 1 | Exam, X-ray, scale, prevention | 1 UDA |
| Band 2 | Fillings, extractions, RCT | 3 UDAs |
| Band 3 | Crowns, dentures, bridges | 12 UDAs |
Your NHS contract will define how many UDAs your practice must deliver annually — and the fee paid per UDA.
UDAs are the output metric of NHS dentistry — but without clarity, they can also become a compliance and clawback risk.
Why UDAs Matter for Dental Practice Owners
UDAs directly impact your:
- Income from NHS England
- Associate performance and pay
- Clawback risk if you under-deliver
- Profit margins depending on how much you pay per UDA to associates
Many principals:
- Don’t track UDA delivery until year-end
- Overpay associates even when underperforming
- Don’t realise their true cost per UDA — especially after lab fees and staff costs
Example:
| Contract | 5,000 UDAs @ £28.50 = £142,500 income
| Delivered | 4,500 UDAs
→ Shortfall = 500 UDAs = £14,250 clawback risk
DentPulse flags under-delivery monthly — before the problem escalates.
Key UDA Benchmarks & Metrics
| Metric | Best Practice |
| UDA Value | >£28.50 per UDA (varies by region) |
| Delivery Rate | 100%+ by contract year-end |
| Associate Pay per UDA | £11–£13 (depends on value and mix) |
| Clawback Risk Threshold | <96% delivery triggers NHS concern |
| UDA per Day per Associate | 20–23/day is average for full-time NHS |
How DentPulse Tracks and Optimises UDAs
| Feature | Function |
| UDA Contract Tracker | Monitors delivery vs target in real time |
| Clawback Alert System | Flags underperformance before financial penalties hit |
| Associate UDA Report | Tracks pay vs productivity with fairness |
| PPP™ Overlay | Links UDA earnings to owner take-home viability |
| Production Heatmaps | Show which days/weeks are falling behind |
DentPulse gives you total UDA clarity — with zero spreadsheet juggling.
DentPulse Tip™
If you wait until Q4 to check UDAs,
you’re not running the NHS contract — it’s running you.
Monthly tracking = prevention. Year-end panic = damage control.
Related Glossary Terms
- Clawback – Penalty for failing to deliver contracted UDAs
- Associate Pay per UDA – What you pay vs what the NHS pays
- UDA Delivery Rate – % of target achieved
- PTP™ – Profit-to-Pocket – Ensures owner drawings align with UDA performance
- NHS vs Private Revenue Mix – Helps evaluate hybrid performance
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| UDA (Unit of Dental Activity) | NHS unit used to measure treatment delivery and payment |
| Purpose | Track contractual fulfilment and production value |
| Financial Impact | Affects NHS income, clawback risk, associate pay, and overall practice profitability |
| DentPulse Advantage | Real-time UDA tracking, associate-level monitoring, and clawback prevention tools |
