Fall in number of dentists earning £200,000-plus

Of the higher earners, 200 earned more than £300,000 a year, while 150 earned £250,000 to £300,000.

The figures relate to taxable income from both NHS and private work among England and Wales’s dentists in 2011-12.

In 2010-11, 790 dentists earned more than £200,000 per year, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

There were 21,300 dentists in England and Wales, with 30 per cent of those earning between £50,000 and £75,000.

Another 18 per cent earned £75,000 to £100,000 while 22 per cent earned £25,000 to £50,000.

Those earning more than £300,000 per year represent the top 1 per cent of earners in dentistry. Most (63 per cent) earned less than £75,000 in 2011-12.

Dr John Milne, chair of the British Dental Association’s general dental practice committee, said those with significantly higher income figures were “likely to be the owners of multi-surgery practices, or many practices, that provide care to very large numbers of patients”.

He continued: “These figures provide further evidence of the reducing incomes and continuing burden of expenses on dental practices across England and Wales we have seen over many years.

“This negatively affects their ability to invest in the premises, equipment and staff that are crucial to providing high-quality patient care.”

He added: “As the figures show, the great majority of dentists earn less than £75,000 a year from their NHS and private work combined.”