1. Welcome to the GDC www.gdc-uk.org GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL www.gdc-uk.org

2. Your presenter today is: www.gdc-uk.org

3. Aims Ours To demonstrate how we effectively protect the public and maintain standards within the profession Yours To learn how to meet GDC expectations and understand the meaning of professionalism www.gdc-uk.org

4. Our purpose is to protect the public by regulating the dental team. We do that by: Registering qualified professionals; Setting standards of dental practice and conduct; Assuring the quality of dental education; Ensuring professionals keep their skills up-to-date; Investigating allegations and complaints about dentists or dental care professionals and taking appropriate action; Working to strengthen patient protection. www.gdc-uk.org

5. What we do We are the organisation which regulates dental professionals in the United Kingdom. By law, all dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, dental therapists and orthodontic therapists must be registered with us to work in the UK. www.gdc-uk.org

8. Getting on our Registers Registration We have two registers: The Dentists Register; and the Dental Care Professionals Register. www.gdc-uk.org

9. Getting on our Registers Quality Assurance The standards we expect dental professionals to have reached at the end of their education and training for registration are set out in two documents: The First Five Years Developing the Dental Team www.gdc-uk.org

10. Staying on our Registers Continuing Professional Development Revalidation ARF Scope of Practice Standards for Dental Professionals Indemnity www.gdc-uk.org

11. Annual Retention Fee All registrants must pay their annual retention fee to remain registered and eligible to work. www.gdc-uk.org

12. Scope of Practice This guidance sets out the skills and abilities each registrant group should have It also outlines the type of additional skills they might acquire during their career You should use your professional judgment to decide if you are sufficiently trained and competent to do something and you should bear in mind that you may have to justify your actions www.gdc-uk.org

13. Continuing Professional Development Demonstrate that you are keeping your knowledge up to date Dentists 250 hours over 5 years Core recommended subjects 75 hours must be verifiable DCPs 150 hours over 5 years Core recommended subjects 50 hours must be verifiable www.gdc-uk.org

14. Being removed from our Registers There are various ways in which you can be removed from the Registers which include: Not paying your ARF Not completing your CPD at the end of the 5 year cycle Asking to have your name voluntarily removed In future, not revalidating Erasure from the Register by one of the Practice Committees www.gdc-uk.org

15. The top complaints* Poor behaviour/conduct35.30% Clinical/Treatment23.32% Advertising8.29% Cross Infection Control1.99% Fraud1.78% Health problems1.51% Service provided1.17% Fees charged0.89% Sexual assault/abuse0.62% *GDC figures for 2009 www.gdc-uk.org

16. Fitness to practise impaired? Case Study www.gdc-uk.org

18. How to get involved Consultations Working with us Let us know what you think www.gdc-uk.org

19. Revalidation www.gdc-uk.org