11 March 2025
Read part one and two.
It’s not enough to pass your exams and assessments with flying colours. If you want to show you have what it takes to be a dental professional, you also need to meet the standards of practice and behaviour expected by your dental school and the GDC, as set out in:
- your university’s student code of conduct
- the General Dental Council’s (GDC) ‘Student professionalism and fitness to practise’
- the GDC’s ‘Standards for the dental team’.
This is the third article in a series exploring the nine principles in the GDC's 'Standards' from a student perspective, so you can be confident about how these apply in your practice and personal life.
Principle seven
Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills
A dental student nearing the end of their final year spoke with an older friend about what to expect from foundation training. The student was surprised to hear their friend had completed a course in facial aesthetics to strengthen their application for associate posts.
The friend advised the student to increase their skills during their foundation year as this could only benefit their career prospects.
What happened next
The student felt uncomfortable with the advice because they wanted to use their foundation year to build confidence with dental procedures they found more difficult. Now they were anxious about falling behind if they didn’t actively try and improve their CV.
They spoke to their personal tutor who advised them not to put themselves under pressure to do further training until they were ready. It was better to cement their core skills before trying to acquire new ones.
The tutor also pointed out that a foundation dentist would need to talk to their deanery if they wanted to carry out this work as it might not be permitted under the training contracts.
Applying the standards
The GDC requires dental professionals to “update and develop your professional knowledge and skills throughout your working life” (para 7.3) but it’s important not to rush the process, adding: “You must only carry out a task or a type of treatment if you are appropriately trained, competent, confident and indemnified.”
It states that you must be sure training is “appropriate for you and equips you with the appropriate knowledge and skills to perform a task safely.” (para 7.2.1).
Of course, many dental practices now offer facial aesthetics procedures and experienced dental professionals are well-placed to do this work with appropriate training and indemnity.
You might decide this is an area you want to explore in future – but it’s not a race. If you do your training too early, you probably won’t be able to put what you learn into practice for some time, and there’s a risk of losing those skills in the meantime.
Principle eight
Raise concerns if patients are at risk
A student therapist had completed a filling for an elderly patient in clinic when they noticed a large bruise on her arm and asked how she got it.
When the patient replied that it happened when her daughter grabbed her a few days ago, the student was concerned about her welfare and sought advice from their supervisor.
What happened next
The supervisor agreed what the patient had said raised safeguarding concerns and they discussed the next steps with the clinic’s safeguarding lead.
As the patient had been to the clinic several times with her daughter and seemed happy and in good health, they decided to get more details about what had happened.
When they spoke to the patient, she explained that she had tripped and her daughter had quickly grabbed her by the arm to stop her from falling. The student was relieved that it wasn’t necessary to refer the case to social services, but it was agreed that they would record the bruising and explanation in the patient’s record, in case there was another cause for concern.
Applying the standards
The dental therapy student did the right thing by raising their concerns about possible abuse, in line with the GDC’s standards. The GDC also says dental professionals “must know who to contact for further advice and how to refer concerns to an appropriate authority” (para 8.5.1).
In this case, that was the clinic supervisor, but in a practice setting, the first person to approach would probably be the practice safeguarding lead.
The GDC’s supplementary guidance on child protection and vulnerable adults notes that “bruising, burns, bite marks and eye injuries could suggest that a concern should be raised” and that dental professionals must be able to justify a decision not to do so. It says you should contact your dental defence organisation for specific advice in this situation.
Whatever setting you work in, familiarise yourself with the safeguarding policy and the name of the safeguarding lead, which should be covered in your induction.
The government’s guide to safeguarding in general practice that covers the roles and responsibilities of different members of the dental team, common terminology and the steps to follow in cases of suspected abuse.
If it had been necessary to make a social services referral, the student should then have sought the patient’s consent to share her confidential information. However, if they believed she was at risk of significant harm or the victim of abuse, they must disclose this to the appropriate authorities, even without consent (see ‘Standards for the dental team’, para 4.3.3).
They would also need to record all relevant discussions with the patient, and their justification for breaking patient confidentiality, in the clinical notes.
Principle nine
Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession
A student dentist had been convicted of careless driving in their third year at dental school. They’d been allowed to complete their course after going through a university disciplinary process, but now they were nearing the end of their course and were worried that disclosing their conviction to the GDC would prevent them from registering.
What happened next
After seeking advice from the DDU, the student recognised that it was better to be open and honest with the GDC from the start.
The GDC asked the student for further details and sought reassurance from their dental school that there had been no further concerns about their conduct. They were allowed to join the register and expressed relief that this was no longer hanging over them.
Applying the standards
A conviction at dental school doesn’t inevitably mean you have to abandon your dental career. However, failing to declare current and past convictions and cautions when applying for GDC registration could easily do just that, because it would raise serious questions about your honesty and fitness to practise.
The GDC standards state you must inform it “if you are subject to criminal proceedings or a regulatory finding is made against you anywhere in the world” (para 9.3).
When evaluating registration applications, the GDC presumes a conviction or caution raises questions about the applicant’s character, placing the burden on you to demonstrate that you still meet the registration requirements.
The GDC might want to know more about the circumstances and will then assess your fitness to practise on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like the nature and seriousness of the offence, how much time has passed and good character evidence.
If you’ve been honest and shown insight, you should be able to meet the GDC’s requirements, especially if the offence was relatively minor. Most importantly, once the matter has been dealt with, the case is considered closed and won’t be looked at again.
MDU advice and support
This is the last of our three-part series exploring how ‘Standards for the dental team’ apply in dental school. As these scenarios show, the GDC’s principles are just as relevant for students as they are for qualified practitioners, so it’s important to read the guidance to understand your professional responsibilities.
If you have specific concerns, don’t hesitate to contact the DDU adviceline for assistance from our dento-legal experts.
You can find the previous articles in this series here:
The DDU is here for you as a student and throughout your dental career. Visit the join DDU pages to explore the benefits of membership now and beyond graduation.
This page was correct at publication on 11/03/2025. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
by Leo Briggs BDS, MSc Deputy head of the DDU
Leo Briggs qualified from University College Hospital, London, in 1989. He has worked extensively in the Community Dental Service including a brief period overseas. He has also worked in General Dental Practice.
Leo gained a masters degree in Periodontology from the Eastman in 1995 and is on the GDC specialist register for Periodontics. Since 1995 he has provided specialist periodontal treatment in both the Salaried Dental Services and Private Practice. He started working for the DDU in 2005. Between 2007 and 2009 he worked part time at the DDU and part time as a Clinical Tutor at the School for Professionals Complementary to Dentistry in Portsmouth. In 2009 Leo went full time with the DDU. In January 2016 he became deputy head of the DDU. He continues to work clinically as a specialist periodontist in a General Practice on Saturdays.