Regulating the dental team

Our purpose is to protect the public by regulating dentists and dental care professionals. We aim to do so by setting standards for their education and performance.

If you are a dentist or a DCP, by law, you need to register with us to work in the UK.

We hold registers for:

• Dentists
• Dental care professionals (clinical dental technicians, dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists)

Dentists and DCPs must hold a qualification approved by us in order to be eligible to apply for registration with us.

Information for dental nurses and dental technicians who submitted an application for registration before 30 July 2008

If we received your application for registration under transitional arrangements by 30 July 2008 but you have not received a response from us, you can continue to practise while we consider your application. We will respond to your application as quickly as possible.

Compulsory registration for dental nurses and dental technicians

Registration for dental nurses and dental technicians became compulsory from 31 July 2008. You must hold a qualification approved by us in order to be eligible to apply for registration with us. If you do not hold a GDC approved qualification and wish to continue working as a dental nurse or dental technician, you will have to acquire a GDC approved qualification. While you are training to be a dental nurse or a dental technician you can continue to work. For further advice please contact us.

We introduced the requirement for compulsory registration in order to improve patient protection. When you register, you make a commitment to behave ethically and professionally, and to meet and uphold the standards of the profession outlined in our standards guidance. You commit to keeping your knowledge and skills up to date. All these are important to patients. They are no doubt important to you as a professional too. To register benefits everyone, and is something to be proud of.

Transitional arrangements for registration of dental nurses and dental technicians

Between 30 July 2006 and 30 July 2008 dental nurses and dental technicians who did not hold a qualification could apply for registration on the basis of their experience. Certain dental nursing and dental technician qualifications are no longer awarded and between 30 July 2006 and 30 July 2008 holders of such qualifications could also apply for registration with us. The purpose of this two-year period was to allow dental nurses and dental technicians with experience in their profession an opportunity to join the GDC Register and continue practising their profession. However, this transitional period has expired and only holders of GDC approved qualifications can now apply for registration with us.

Apply for registration

To apply for registration with the GDC please follow our step by step guide to registering with the GDC.