The NHS has launched a new recruitment incentive scheme and is encouraging dental practices with the highest demand to make use of it.

Around 240 dentists will be offered bonus payments of up to £20,000 to work in underserved areas for up to three years.

Practices have been issued NHS guidance to encourage them to advertise the "golden hello" scheme.

The initiative is part of the NHS and Government’s dental recovery plan which has to goal of ensuring easier and quicker access to NHS dental care.

It is hoped that an extra 1.5 million additional NHS dental treatments will be delivered in the first 12 months.

Chief dental officer, Dr Jason Wong MBE said: “Thanks to our dental recovery plan to improve access to vital dental services, many practices are now taking on new patients and we will continue to work with the profession to encourage them to take advantage of our new incentive scheme.

“We are working to ensure that one and a half million additional dental treatments will be offered to patients over the next year with payments made to dental practices for taking on new patients and incentives for dentists to work in underserved areas”.

Health and social care secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Our dental plan is already having an impact and it’s fantastic to see hundreds more practices signing up to treat new patients since we launched our new patient premium.

“And today we can confirm that our targeted recruitment scheme, which offers a ‘golden hello’ of £20,000 to dentists who agree to work in areas in need, is launching, with guidance going out to dental practices and dentists who may wish to apply for the scheme.

“I am committed to making access to dentistry faster, simpler and fairer for all those who need it – and these golden hellos will help ensure that patients can access good oral health, wherever they live”.