Conduct

The Council's conduct procedures allow us to deal with cases where a dental professional's behaviour may put patients at risk.

The Council has powers under the 1984 Dentists Act (as amended) to take action when an allegation is made that a dental professional's fitness to practise is impared by reason of their conduct.

Examples of issues that the Council may deal with under these procedures include poor dental treatment, inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour, or activities that may endanger the safety of patients or the public.

Criminal Offences

The Council is told by the police if a registrant has been convicted or cautioned in the United Kingdom. We can also consider convictions and cautions imposed abroad which, if committed in England and Wales, would constitute a criminal offence.

The Council can consider any criminal conviction. This includes offences not directly connected with a registrant's profession or practice or which occurred while the registrant was not registered. For example, the Council would consider convictions for fraud whether related to dentistry or to personal finances, drink driving offences, sexual or physical assault or deception.

The offence is considered by the Investigating Committee as to whether it requires a referral to a Practice Committee.

If referred to a Practice Committee (PC), they must accept the findings of the court on matters of fact. This means that a dental professional cannot claim to have been innocent of the original charges. Similarly the Practice Committee may not question the conviction.

The only duty of the Practice Committee is to decide whether (and what) further action needs to be taken against the dental professional.