eGDCPrinciple 2: Practise safely and effectively
Use your knowledge and skills to provide the right outcome for your patients, keep up to date with relevant guidance, legislation and regulations that affect your work, and speak up to protect others.
There are many ways that you can demonstrate that you are practising safely and effectively. Below we have highlighted some expectations regarding safe and effective practice, however, it is important to recognise that this is not a complete list.
As a dental professional, you are expected to:
- Provide care that takes into account a patient’s broader healthcare and wellbeing.
- Adopt an evidence-based approach to practice and the care you provide for patients.
- Be aware of and work within all relevant guidance, legislation and regulations as it applies to you as a dental professional, and ensure you provide care in a safe environment your working environment.
- Keep up to date, complete and accurate patient records that allow you and other professionals to clearly understand them.
- When using technology to support practice, ensure you understand your responsibility, the technology you are using, and its limitations.
- Reflect on your performance and identify strengths and areas for development.
- Seek feedback from colleagues and patients, and listen to, learn from, and act on this feedback.
- Keep your knowledge and skills up to date to develop and maintain your practice over the course of your career.
- Understand your personal and professional scope of practice, and only perform tasks that you are trained, competent and indemnified/insured to do.
- Reflect on your own mental and physical health and seek support when you need it, including adjusting or limiting your practise as necessary.
- Ensure that you and those you work with are trained in medical emergencies and understand their role, and there is sufficient support where care is provided.
- Speak up when you see something go wrong to support your patients and colleagues and to protect them from harm.