What does GDC mean in MEDICAL

The GDC is a UK-based regulator of dental professionals in the United Kingdom. It sets standards for and regulates the activities of dentists, dental nurses, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, dental hygienists, orthodontic therapists and other oral health professionals.

The GDC ensures public safety by setting standards for training and education, assessing registration applications for fitness to practise and keeping up to date registers for all relevant professions. Additionally, the GDC investigate any complaints or allegations made against registrants with regards to professional misconduct.

Fitness to practise refers to an applicant’s suitability for entry onto or retention on a register maintained by the GDC. This involves assessing whether an individual has the necessary skills or knowledge needed in order to safely provide care in their profession.

Yes. If a complaint is upheld in relation to negligence or misconduct then disciplinary action may be taken by the GDC including warnings, suspension and/or removal from its register. The type of sanction issued depends on specific circumstances around each case as determined by an independent panel that examines all evidence presented.

Yes, you can make a complaint about your dentist via our website or by calling us on 0345 222 4141. All complaints are investigated thoroughly and independently in our fitness to practise process with clear processes laid out in our guidance documents which are available from our website.

All decisions concerning fitness to practise matters are made independently of both members of staff from the General Dental Council as well as any representatives from other organisations who are not members of staff from GDC taking part in an investigation process at hearings held by them. These decisions are made based upon facts put before an independent panel consisting of lay people as well as registered clinicians such as dentists who will jointly issue outcome documents after considering all evidence presented at a hearing.

The General Dental Council has guidelines over provision of care for those whose first language does not match that spoken within a practice environment; these can be found online under ‘Guidance on Professionalism’ which specified what reasonable steps must be taken if neither patient nor dentist understand one another’s native languages sufficiently that they can communicate effectively during treatment sessions or consultations.