Fitness to Practise hearings

As part of our duty to protect the public we hold formal public hearings into cases about dental professionals.

The Practice Committee hearings form the third and last stage of our complaints procedure. The most serious sanction the Committee can take is to erase a registrant. This means they are "struck off" and are not allowed to practise.

The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) is charged with determining whether or not a registrant is guilty of serious professional misconduct under the 'old rules' or whether their fitness to practise is impaired under the 'new rules' on the basis of the facts found proved. Where a registrant's fitness to practise is found to be impaired or they are found guilty of serious professional misconduct, the PCC decides whether to impose a sanction.

The Professional Performance Committee (PPC) deals with cases where it appears that a dental professionals performance is consistently falling below an acceptable standard.

The Health Committee (HC) deals with cases where the respondent's fitness to practise as a dentist or member of a profession complementary to dentistry is impaired by reason of ill health.

The Interim Orders Committee (IOC) can, as an interim measure, suspend or place conditions upon a registrant pending a full inquiry by the PCC.  The suspension may be renewed or revoked at a subsequent meeting.  At this stage it is important to note that the allegations have not been tested or proved.  This will be for the PCC to decide.

You can find more details about our current and upcoming hearings and the results of recent hearings by using the menu on the right.