Dental regulation, standards and fitness to practise

Dentist suspended for self-prescribing drugs using patients’ names

A dentist has been handed a 12-month suspension by the General Dental Council (GDC) after a criminal conviction for fraud…

Dentistry

The register doesn’t lie – where have the dental technicians gone?

The GDC has finally said what many of us have known for years about the shortage of dental technicians. But…

Dentistry

International dentists joining GDC register outnumber UK-qualifiers for the first time

More than half (53%) of dentists who joined the General Dental Council (GDC) register in 2025 were internationally qualified, according…

Dentistry

Dentist reinstated after erasure for ‘racially-motivated’ emails

A dentist removed from the General Dental Council (GDC) register for sending racially-motivated emails to former colleagues has had that…

Dentistry

ChatGPT dentistry: how to handle the AI-informed patient

Six months ago, Bethany Rossington had never encountered a patient arriving with an AI-generated treatment plan. Now she finds that…

Aesthetic dentistry

One in five surveyed UK dentists provide no NHS care

A fifth of UK-registered dentists said they only deliver private care with no NHS activity, the General Dental Council (GDC)…

Dentistry

Annual renewal: 900 dentists removed from GDC register

The number of dentists removed from the General Dental Council (GDC) register increased to 900 this year, up from 793…

Dentistry

Dentist struck off for attempting indecent communication with a child

After sending ‘sexual communication’ to a police officer they believed to be a 12-year-old child, a dentist has been erased…

Dentistry

GDC fails to meet standards for fitness to practise and equality

The General Dental Council (GDC) met 16 out of 18 Standards of Good Regulation in 2024/25, falling short on equality,…

Dentistry

GDC publishes updated guidance to ‘reduce fear and stress’ in dentistry

The General Dental Council (GDC) has this week published its updated decision-making guidance in a bid to reduce fear among registrants.…

Dentistry

Dentist erased after hitting child patient on head

A dentist has been removed from the register after it was proved that he hit the head of a child…

Dentistry

Most GDC registrants are dissatisfied with fitness to practise process

Most dental professionals are dissatisfied with the fitness to practise process and the outcome of their case, according to the…

Dentistry

Fitness to practise: GDC to explore ‘less adversarial’ processes

Having fewer dental professionals fear the General Dental Council (GDC) is just one of the aims set by the regulator…

Dentistry

Does GDC working patterns data show an identity crisis for DCPs?

Cat Edney reinterprets the picture of new GDC working patterns data and what it means for dental care professionals (DCPs).…

Columnists

Refugee dentists given easier access to UK registration

A new alternative evidence policy will reduce barriers to registration for refugee and displaced dental professionals, the General Dental Council…

Dentistry

Annual renewal period for dentists opens for 2026

The General Dental Council (GDC) has opened its annual renewal period for dentists, confirming the steps required to remain registered…

Dentistry

GDC ‘must modernise’ to secure future of dentistry, dental leaders tell health secretary

A dental association this week told health secretary Wes Streeting that reform of the General Dental Council (GDC) is a…

Dentistry

Annual Retention Fee increase confirmed for 2026 by GDC

The General Dental Council (GDC) has confirmed that the Annual Retention Fee (ARF) will be increased for both dentists and…

Breaking news

Only one quarter of DCPs deliver mostly NHS treatment

Almost 75% of dental care professionals (DCPs) spend the majority of their time working in mixed or private practice, new…

Dentistry