Communicate clearly with patients

The GDC's recently published Standards for the Dental Team, which will come into effect in September 2013, places greater emphasis on what patients can expect from dental professionals and on the need to ensure patients are given all the information they require to consent to treatment. There is also more detailed guidance on dental charges, social media and working with colleagues.

Leo Briggs, dento-legal adviser at the DDU, said:

"Much has changed in the dental profession since the GDC's previous standards were published in 2005. The new guidance reflects recent developments such as direct access for patients to dental hygienists and therapists and the outcome of reports such as the OFT dental market study and the Francis report into Mid Staffordshire hospital.

"Dental professionals will be only too aware of the need to put patients’ interests first, which has long been central to ethical practice.  However, the GDC has provided more prescriptive guidance to dental professionals about what standards of conduct, performance and ethics are expected of them and what patients can expect. We would encourage all dental professionals to use the next two months to digest the guidance before it takes effect on September 30 so they know what is expected of them."