A dental bodies corporate (DBC) is a corporation entitled to practice dentistry in the UK using the structure of a limited company.

History DBCs have practised dentistry in the UK for over a hundred years.Report of the Departmental Committee (chairman F. D. Acland) on the Dentists' Act. London: HMSO, Cmd. 33, 1919. The Dentists Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 33) established a register for qualified dentists in order to combat an increase in unregistered practice by dental companies.The history of dental bodies corporate and the role of the BDA in their development | British Dental Journal (nature.com) In its 1946 report, the Teviot CommitteeInterdepartmental Committee (chairman Lord Teviot). Final report on dentistry. London: HMSO, Cmnd. 6727, 1946. recommended the inclusion of a comprehensive dental service as part of a national health service. As a result, the General Dental Council (GDC) was established to make dentistry a self-governing profession.

The 1955 Dentists BillThe Bill. Br Dent J 1952; 99: 82. prohibited DBCs from dentistry unless they were open and practising on 21 July 1955, as well as registered with the GDC. When the bill received royal assent on 15 March 1956,Dentists Bill 1955. Br Dent J 1956; 100: 219. there were 74 DBCs listed.GDC. The Dental register for the year 1956. London: General Dental Council. This number fell to 27 in 2002GDC. The Dental Register for the year 2002. London: General Dental Council. when DBCs became the subject of a government consultation.Department of Health. Amending the Dentists Act 1984. London: The Department of Health, 2002.

Although DBCs were originally limited in number by the Dentists Act 1984,Dentists Act 1984 (legislation.gov.uk) their status changed following a 2005 amendment to the act which removed key restrictions. Although a DBC does not require GDC approval to set itself up, it must satisfy the requirements of sections 40 and 43 of the Dentists Act 1984. The GDC was also required to maintain a list of DBCs.

DBCs have since expanded to the extent that in 2015, they held over 40% of NHS contracts in England worth over £1.3 billion.The history of dental bodies corporate and the role of the BDA in their development | British Dental Journal (nature.com)

References