Compulsory registration for dental nurses and dental technicians kicked in at midnight on 30 July 2008.
Existing dental nurses and dental technicians have had two years to register with the General Dental Council (GDC) and as the clock struck 12 and the deadline passed, 36,225 dental nurses and 6381 dental technicians were registered in the UK. Another estimated 5000 applications are still to be processed.
The newly registered professionals join dentists, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists on the GDC’s registers to bring the total number of registrants to 83,910, excluding those still to be processed.
GDC chief executive and registrar Duncan Rudkin said:
‘We have made a concerted effort to make the registration process as straightforward as possible for everyone and to ensure a smooth transition. We have carried out a relentless campaign over the past two years to ensure everyone knew about registration, and kept the doors of our three offices open until midnight last night to receive last minute applications. We have kept banging the drum and it’s great news for the public that dental care professionals have registered in numbers.
‘Registration brings with it new responsibilities and the GDC will be doing all it can to ensure registrants are kept fully up to date with the latest information, news and requirements through our website and the GDC Gazette.’
Until the 30 July deadline, dental nurses and dental technicians without a formal qualification but with enough experience could register with the GDC. However, now the deadline has passed all applicants need a formal GDC recognised qualification to register.
