Understanding and evaluating early career dental professionals' experiences of the General Dental Council

In January 2023, we commissioned SQW, an independent research organisation, to conduct a comprehensive research study to understand the experiences, perceptions, and attitudes of early career dental professionals towards their regulatory body, the General Dental Council (GDC).

The research, which included a survey of 1,479 professionals and concluded earlier this year, delved into perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes towards the GDC, focusing on various influencing factors such as direct communication and peer influence. It also assessed professionals' perceptions of their preparedness for practice, the impact of COVID-19 on their experiences, and the effectiveness of GDC communications and engagement.

Some of the key findings from the research include:

• 74% of early career dental professionals hold either a positive (44%) or neutral (30%) perception of the GDC.
  
  
• Perceptions vary between dental professions, with most dental nurses holding positive views of the GDC and most dentists holding negative views.
  
  
• Dentists hold the highest negative perceptions, with 52% of respondents expressing unfavourable views, significantly more than any other group.
  
  
• Over time, dental professionals’ perceptions of the GDC are more informed by their colleagues’ views than by their own experiences of the GDC.
  
  
• On professional practice, the study found that GDC’s regulatory activities had a positive impact on early career dental professionals, with just under two-thirds reporting a positive impact on their practice (43% positive and 21% very positive). However, this also varied by profession. Of the four largest registrant groups, over 70% of dental nurses, therapists, and hygienists reported a positive or very positive impact, while only 37% of dentists expressed this sentiment.
  
  
• A substantial majority (86%) of early career dental professionals said they felt well-prepared for professional practice when first joining the GDC register, many attributing their readiness to comprehensive education and training. The highest percentages of dental professionals feeling well-prepared for practice upon initial registration were dental nurses (92%), dental therapists (87%) and dental hygienists (86%). The percentage of dentists feeling the same was slightly lower (74%).

You can read or download the full report below.