Useful organisations for professionals
As the statutory regulator of the dental team, we have a duty to be impartial in the information we provide on our standards and guidance. This means we are unable to offer advice on individual circumstances and situations.
For advice on interpreting our standards and guidance in relation to your individual practice, please seek advice from your indemnity provider, professional association or peers, as appropriate.
On this page, we have provided information on the organisations with a remit to provide advice and support to both GDC registrants and patients on the interpretation of our standards and guidance, as well as standards and guidance beyond our scope, such as clinical guidance, legal advice and workplace matters.
Professional associations
Indemnity providers
Dental Defence Union (DDU)
Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)
Taylor Defence Services Limited
In addition, some professional associations, including the BDA, may provide indemnity cover for their members.
Departments of Health
Guidance
Dementia - Friendly Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines
Guidance notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-Ray Equipment (2nd Edition)
Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography
Antimicrobial prescribing for GDPs
Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping
FGM: mandatory reporting in healthcare
Guide for managers of HIV-infected workers who perform exposure prone procedures
Medical and dental students: Health clearance for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV and Tuberculosis
Resuscitation Guidelines – Quality Standards: Primary dental care
Resuscitation Guidelines – Quality Standards: Primary dental care equipment list
CQC – Dentists: information for providers
HTM01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices (England)
HTM01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices (Wales)
Decontamination into Practice (Scotland)
Dental Record Keeping Standards – A Consensus Approach
SDCEP - Drug Prescribing For Dentistry
The Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013
National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures (NatSSIPs)
Standards for conscious sedation and accreditation dental sedation report
Guidance on child protection and vulnerable adults
PHE – Guidance for Safeguarding in General Dental Practice: A Toolkit for Dental Teams
Botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers for under 18s: guidance for business
Legislation and rules
Dentists Act 1984 (as amended)
Equalities Act 2010 (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations (2012)
Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010 (England)
Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000
Ionising Radiation Regulations 1999 (IRR99)
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017
Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EC
The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Amendment) Regulations 2012 (implementing Directive 2011/84 EU)
The National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005 (England) 2005 (England)
General Dental Services Regulations in Scotland
Other regulatory organisations
Care Quality Commission (England)
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (Northern Ireland)
Disclosure and Barring
Disclosure Scotland
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
Professional Standards Authority
Health and Care Professions Council
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (England)
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Other useful organisations
Information Commissioner’s Office
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Public Health Public Health Wales
Advertising Standards Authority
College of General Dentistry (formerly the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK))
Royal College of Surgeons (England)
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow