Look for a Specialist

As well as the Dentists Register and the Dental Care Professionals Register, we hold lists of dental specialists. The Specialist Lists in Distinctive Branches of Dentistry enable patients to identify registered dentists who have met certain requirements and been given the right by us to call themselves a ‘specialist’.  Any registered dentist can work in a particular branch of dentistry (such as orthodontics or oral surgery), but only those on our Specialist Lists can call themselves a 'specialist'.

There are 12 Specialist Lists. Registered dentists must apply for registration to the lists and entry is only granted if a dentist meets certain minimum standards of training. The routes for entry are determined by European and GDC regulations.

The specialist list in Surgical Dentistry was closed in April 2007. The dentists that were on this list have been transferred to the reconfigured Oral Surgery list. This move brings UK arrangements for oral surgery into line with those in Europe and elsewhere, and will mean greater clarity for patients and practitioners about the specialty.

How to search
To find a specialist in a particular field of dentistry, you can search the Specialist Lists on this site. If you want to check a dentist is on a specialist list, enter the surname and/or forename into the search form and select the specialty. 

Alternatively, you can call us on +44 (0)20 7887 3800 or email us on GDCRegistration@gdc-uk.org. Please note we cannot search for you but can provide you with a list that you can search manually.

We do not keep information about whether a dentist practices for the NHS or privately. If you would like NHS treatment from a Specialist, please ask your dentist to provide you with a referral or contact your local NHS Authority. If you require a specific treatment and do not know which specialist list this falls under, please refer to the specialty definitions on this site or seek advice from your dentist. You can also refer to the British Dental Association's Find a dentist website: www.bda-findadentist.org.uk

Looking for a specialist in your area
You can also search for a specialist in your area by entering the name of the town or postcode (partial postcodes also work) and selecting the specialty from the drop down box. Registered addresses are made available to the public. Please note that the registered address for dentists and dental care professionals is not always their practice address.

Viewing all entries on a Specialist List
If you want to see the complete list for a specialty just select the specialty and leave all of the other fields blank. This will also tell you how many dentists there are on that particular specialist list.