GDC Fitness to Practise: Complete Guide for Dentists and Dental Care Professionals
How the General Dental Council handles concerns about dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists and technicians: the legal grounds, the four stages from initial assessment to a Practice Committee hearing, the 2025 numbers and timelines at each stage, who is referred, independent findings on performance and trust, and the reforms under consultation in 2026.
Reviewed October 2026 against the Dentists Act 1984, the GDC Fitness to Practise Statistical Report 2025, GDC consultations and research, and the PSA's 2024-25 performance review
Short answer: GDC fitness to practise is the process the General Dental Council uses to decide whether a dentist or dental care professional can practise safely without restriction. In 2025 the GDC received 1,766 concerns, a 26% rise, and on average 15 of every 100 reached a Practice Committee hearing. Eighteen people were erased, about 0.01% of the register. The process has four stages: initial assessment, assessment, case examiners and hearings, and it is slow: the assessment stage averaged 78 working weeks in 2025. Your insight, remediation and engagement can make a difference at every stage.
Key takeaways
- Patients raise about 45% of concerns. Dentists account for 77% of concerns and dental care professionals for 23%.
- Case examiners referred 46% of the cases they decided to a Practice Committee in 2025, so the case examiner stage is where most outcomes are shaped.
- Single-patient clinical concerns now move faster: the assessment stage for these fell from 30 to 16 weeks.
- The PSA has found the GDC failed its timeliness standard every year since 2017-18, and escalated its concerns to the Health Secretary.
- The GDC is consulting in 2026 on replacing the Standards for the Dental Team with a new Framework for Professionalism, and on new guidance for early-stage decisions.
This guide covers the GDC only. For all UK regulators, see our complete guide to fitness to practise in the UK.
Who the GDC regulates
- Dental nurses
- Dental hygienists
- Dental therapists
- Orthodontic therapists
- Dental technicians
- Clinical dental technicians
Register figures are approximate, taken from the totals in the GDC's 2025 statistical report.
The GDC also funds the Dental Complaints Service, which operates independently and helps patients resolve complaints about private dental treatment. It is a separate route from fitness to practise: a complaint about fees or a disappointing result is usually for the practice or the Dental Complaints Service, while a concern about safety, honesty or conduct is for the GDC.
The legal grounds
Under section 27(2) of the Dentists Act 1984, your fitness to practise can be impaired by:
The 2025 numbers
The GDC's statistical report for 2025, published on 3 June 2026, is the first to cover all four stages. On average, for every 100 concerns received:
Who raised concerns and about whom
Patients were the largest source, at 45% of concerns, down from 51% in 2024. Concerns from people acting in a public capacity, such as employers, the NHS and public bodies, rose by 54, and whistleblowing rose from 3% to 5% of concerns. Dentists accounted for 77% of concerns. Concerns about dental care professionals rose by 45%, the fastest growth. Concerns about professionals on the register for under five years rose from 19% to 22%, and concerns about UK-qualified dentists fell below 60% for the first time, to 57.5%, as concerns about EEA-qualified (up 36%) and overseas-qualified dentists (up 32%) rose.
What the concerns are about
Most cases start as clinical concerns: in open cases at the assessment stage, 89% of allegations were clinical, with the quality of examination the most common (37%). By the time cases reach a hearing the balance shifts: 60% of allegations at initial Practice Committee hearings, and 43% at initial Interim Orders Committee hearings, related to conduct. In practice, this means a clinical concern is far more likely to be closed or resolved early, while conduct issues such as dishonesty are more likely to reach a hearing. Dishonesty cases are covered in our guide to dishonesty allegations.
Outcomes at each stage
| Stage | 2025 | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment | 1,743 | 81% referred for assessment, 17% closed, 2% passed to the NHS |
| Assessment | 1,293 | 58.5% closed, 41.5% (536) referred to case examiners |
| Case examiners | 562 | Final decisions (see below) |
| Interim Orders Committee | 149 | 70% led to an order: 59 conditions, 45 suspensions |
| Practice Committee | 110 | 18 erasures, 30 suspensions, 11 conditions, 13 reprimands, 38 no sanction |
Source: GDC Fitness to Practise Statistical Report 2025. The report gives slightly different totals in some sections; figures here are from its detailed tables.
Case examiner decisions
Warnings, advice and undertakings, and when to accept them, are explained in our guide to warnings and undertakings. Of the 18 people erased in 2025, 9 were dentists, 6 dental nurses and 3 other dental care professionals.
At a Practice Committee, suspension can last up to 12 months and conditions up to three years (section 27B(6)). You can appeal a Practice Committee decision to the High Court, the Court of Session in Scotland, or the High Court in Northern Ireland, within 28 days of being notified (section 29). Our guide to fitness to practise outcomes explains each sanction and appeals.
How a GDC case moves, and how long it takes
Initial assessment
The GDC checks whether the concern is about a registrant and could raise a question about fitness to practise.
Assessment
The GDC gathers records, statements and clinical advice, and asks for your comments. Our guide to the investigation stage explains what to expect.
Case examiners
Case examiners decide whether to close the case, give advice or a warning, agree undertakings, or refer it to a Practice Committee. Our guide to writing your response covers what to send.
Practice Committee hearing
A Professional Conduct, Professional Performance or Health Committee decides the facts, impairment and sanction. See our guide to fitness to practise hearings.
Timescales are GDC averages for 2025. Your case may be faster or slower.
Related courseDealing with a Complaint or Investigation: responding to the GDC→If there may be a risk while the case continues, you can be referred to the Interim Orders Committee at any stage. In 2025 it took an average of 19 working days from referral to the first hearing. Cases combining clinical and conduct concerns were the most common referral, and 83% of those led to an order. An interim order can last up to 18 months, must be reviewed within six months and then at least every six months, and you can ask for an earlier review after three months. Only the High Court can extend it, by up to 12 months at a time (section 32). See our guide to interim and substantive suspension.
What happens to you at each stage
The GDC's guidance for dental professionals facing a concern sets out what to expect. Being told about a concern does not mean action has been taken: "You can continue working in your current role while we investigate", unless an interim order says otherwise.
| Stage | What you receive or are asked | Your options |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Notice that a concern has been raised, and requests for further details. The GDC may take clinical advice. | Respond promptly and accurately. Contact your indemnifier or defence organisation before you reply. |
| Referral to case examiners | The allegations and evidence, with an invitation to comment. You "normally have 28 days" to send observations. | Comments are optional, but most people send them. You can ask for more time; since 2021 the GDC has given an extra 14 days on request for single-patient concerns, dental care professional performance concerns, and concerns about maintaining premises, equipment and materials. |
| Case examiner decision | A decision by two case examiners, one lay and one a dental professional. | If offered undertakings, you can accept them or the case may go to a hearing. See our guide to warnings and undertakings. |
| Practice Committee | Notice of a hearing before the Dental Professionals Hearings Service, which hears GDC cases independently. | Attend, be represented and give evidence. Upcoming hearings and recent decisions are published on the Hearings Service website. |
Warnings issued by GDC case examiners are currently published for up to 24 months. The GDC consulted from March to June 2026 on a uniform 12-month publication period for warnings, and on stronger guidance on sexual misconduct, discrimination and harassment. A reprimand from a Practice Committee is published for one year.
How Practice Committees decide the sanction
New guidance for the Practice Committees applies to hearings from 6 January 2026. It sets out four sanctions and a clear order for considering them.
Reprimand
A formal finding, published for one year.
Conditions
For up to three years, such as supervision, training or restrictions on certain treatments.
Suspension
For up to 12 months. The committee can direct a review before it ends.
Erasure
Removal from the register, with no application to return for five years.
The guidance says sanctions are not meant to punish, though they "may be punitive in effect", and that the committee "must begin its consideration of sanction with the least restrictive sanction", giving clear reasons for rejecting each lesser one (paras 206 to 210). It should also consider the public interest in professionals having the chance to return to "safe and competent practice". Taking no action despite a finding of impairment is possible, but such cases "are likely to be rare".
After directing suspension or erasure, a committee can also make an immediate order under section 30 of the Dentists Act, so the restriction applies straight away rather than after the 28-day appeal period.
General Dental Council v Aga [2025] EWCA Civ 68
What happened. A dentist was suspended for nine months for misconduct, with an immediate order. His appeal took about four and a half months to decide and was dismissed. The High Court had held that the time he spent under the immediate order counted towards the nine months.
The outcome. The Court of Appeal disagreed. It held that the substantive suspension and the immediate order are separate, and the Dentists Act has no mechanism to set one off against the other. Any change would be a matter for Parliament.
The lesson: if you appeal while under an immediate order, the time spent waiting does not shorten your suspension, so the total period can be longer than the committee directed. You or the GDC can ask for an early review.
Fairness, trust and performance
Ethnicity data
Asian or Asian British dentists made up 31% of the register but 36% of new concerns in 2025, while White dentists made up 46% of the register and 35% of concerns. Since 2022, the share of assessment-stage closures for Asian or Asian British dentists rose from 26% to 36%, and for White dentists fell from 42% to 35%.
PSA review 2024-25
The PSA's review, published in December 2025, found the GDC met 16 of 18 standards but again failed standard 15 on timeliness, which it has not met since 2017-18. The PSA wrote to the Health Secretary and the Health and Social Care Committee, noting that the GDC had more open cases older than 156 weeks than at any point in the last four review periods.
The GDC's own research shows how the process feels. Its Fitness to Practise experiences survey, published in 2026 and covering cases decided between April 2022 and September 2025, found that 38% of registrants trusted the process to reach the correct outcome, 41% agreed it was fair and unbiased, and 71% said the time taken could be improved. Among people who raised concerns, only 17% considered the process fair and unbiased. The GDC's Executive Director of Regulation said in June 2026 that "fear of the process remains real".
Common concerns and how to stay clear of them
Examination and treatment planning
The quality of examination was the single most common allegation type in open cases at assessment in 2025 (37%). Thorough examination, radiographs where indicated, and a recorded treatment plan are your best protection.
Records
Missing or poor records make clinical concerns harder to answer, and altering them afterwards turns a clinical case into a dishonesty case. See our guide to records and probity.
Consent
Principle 3 of the standards requires valid consent, including explaining options, risks and costs.
Indemnity
Dental professionals "are required by law to have appropriate indemnity or insurance in place before they practise". The GDC says declaring indemnity that turns out to be untrue "may be considered a fitness to practise matter".
Dishonesty
Conduct allegations dominate at hearings, and dishonesty towards patients, employers or the GDC itself is treated most seriously. See our guide to dishonesty allegations.
Working within your scope
Dental care professionals must work within the GDC's scope of practice for their role. Treatment outside it can raise a conduct concern for both the professional and anyone who asked them to do it.
CPD: removal that is not fitness to practise
Some removals from the register are administrative rather than fitness to practise decisions, but they still stop you practising. The Registrar may remove you if you do not meet the minimum CPD requirement or do not make your annual CPD statement, after giving you a further chance to show compliance and with a right of appeal.
| Registrant | Minimum CPD per five-year cycle |
|---|---|
| Dentists | 100 hours |
| Dental therapists, hygienists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians | 75 hours |
| Dental nurses and dental technicians | 50 hours |
Source: GDC CPD scheme. If you hold more than one title, the higher requirement applies.
Leaving the register during a case
You can apply for voluntary removal while a fitness to practise case is open, by telling your GDC case contact and completing a statutory declaration that you have stopped practising. You will be asked whether you admit the allegations and accept impairment, any informant is invited to comment, and the Registrar decides. Under guidance updated in August 2024, applications are more likely to succeed where allegations are at the lower end of seriousness. Where there are serious public protection concerns, the investigation will generally be concluded first. You can apply to be restored 12 months after voluntary removal, and outstanding concerns will be assessed then.
Illegal practice
It is a criminal offence for someone who is not registered to practise dentistry, which includes tooth whitening, to use protected titles such as dentist or dental hygienist, or to run a dental business without a majority of registered directors. The GDC prosecutes these offences in the magistrates' courts where it has sufficient evidence and prosecution is in the public interest. If you are asked to work alongside or supervise someone who is not registered, take advice before you agree.
The standards your case is measured against
GDC cases are currently judged against the Standards for the Dental Team, the "silver book", in place since 2013, built around nine principles.
| Area | Where the standards cover it | Our guide |
|---|---|---|
| Honesty and integrity | Principle 1.3, be honest and act with integrity | Probity in healthcare |
| Consent | Principle 3, obtain valid consent | Probity vs ethics |
| Records | Principle 4, maintain and protect patients' information | Records and probity |
| Boundaries | Standard 9.1.4 | Professional boundaries |
| Openness after mistakes | GDC guidance on being open and honest | Duty of candour |
| Telling the GDC | Standard 9.3: inform the GDC immediately of criminal proceedings, or a regulatory finding, anywhere in the world | Self-referral |
| Fees, gifts and interests | Standards 1.7 and 2.4 | Conflicts of interest |
What is changing in 2026
The GDC launched a consultation, closing 31 August 2026, on replacing the Standards for the Dental Team with a new Framework for Professionalism, built on four principles of professionalism with supporting guidance and resources.
The GDC published its most detailed fitness to practise report to date, covering all four stages.
A 12-week consultation opened, closing on 2 November 2026, on new guidance for decision makers at the earliest stages. It addresses sexual misconduct, discrimination, offensive behaviour and freedom of expression, and asks decision makers to approach health concerns "with compassion".
Until any new framework or guidance is adopted, the current standards and guidance apply.
Support during a GDC case
Contact your dental defence organisation or indemnity provider as soon as you hear from the GDC, and before you reply. Dentists in England can also use NHS Practitioner Health, a free and confidential service for mental health support. If your health is part of the case, see our guide to health and fitness to practise. If you are struggling, you can contact Samaritans at any time on 116 123.
If you have just heard from the GDC
- Note every deadline in the GDC's letter.
- Get advice from your defence organisation before replying.
- Secure your records. Never alter clinical notes after a concern is raised.
- Start remediation, such as targeted training, audit and reflection, rather than waiting.
- Keep evidence of what you change in your practice.
- Reflect in writing. Our guide to reflective accounts explains how.
What evidence carries weight is covered in our guide to evidence of remediation, and real decisions in our fitness to practise case studies. After erasure, you cannot apply to be restored for five years, as explained in our guide to how long remediation takes.
Frequently asked questions
How many dentists are struck off by the GDC each year?
In 2025, 18 dental professionals were erased, 9 of them dentists, which is about 0.01% of the register. A further 30 were suspended.
How long does a GDC fitness to practise case take?
In 2025 the assessment stage averaged 78 working weeks, case examiner decisions took 36 working weeks after that, and hearings came an average of 57 working weeks after referral. Single-patient clinical concerns are now assessed faster, averaging 16 weeks.
Who complains to the GDC?
Patients raised 45% of concerns in 2025. Others came from employers, the NHS, public bodies, other professionals and whistleblowers.
How long can a GDC interim order last?
Up to 18 months. It must be reviewed within six months and then at least every six months, and only the High Court can extend it, by up to 12 months at a time.
What are the most common GDC concerns?
Clinical concerns, especially the quality of examination, make up most concerns at the assessment stage. Conduct concerns, such as dishonesty, make up most allegations at Practice Committee hearings.
Are dental nurses investigated by the GDC?
Yes. Dental nurses and other dental care professionals are regulated by the GDC. Concerns about dental care professionals rose by 45% in 2025, and 6 dental nurses were erased.
What can GDC case examiners decide?
They can close a case, give advice, issue a warning, agree undertakings, or refer the case to a Practice Committee. In 2025 they referred 259 of 562 decisions to a Practice Committee.
Is the GDC replacing the Standards for the Dental Team?
It has consulted on replacing them with a new Framework for Professionalism. Until a decision is made and the new framework is introduced, the current standards apply.
Should a private treatment complaint go to the GDC?
Usually not at first. Complaints about private treatment, fees or results can go to the practice and then the Dental Complaints Service. The GDC deals with concerns about safety, honesty and conduct.
Can I keep working during a GDC investigation?
Usually yes. The GDC says you can continue working in your current role while it investigates, unless an interim order restricts or suspends your registration.
How long do I have to respond to the GDC?
When your case is referred to case examiners, you normally have 28 days to send observations. You can ask for more time, and an extra 14 days is available on request for some types of concern.
How long is a GDC warning published?
Currently for up to 24 months. In 2026 the GDC consulted on a uniform 12-month publication period. A Practice Committee reprimand is published for one year.
Does time under an immediate order count towards my suspension?
No. The Court of Appeal held in GDC v Aga (2025) that time under an immediate order while an appeal is pending does not count towards the suspension the committee directed.
Can I leave the GDC register during an investigation?
You can apply for voluntary removal, and the Registrar decides. Applications are more likely to succeed for less serious allegations. Serious cases are generally concluded first.
Is tooth whitening by a beautician legal?
No. Tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry, so it is a criminal offence for someone who is not GDC-registered to provide it, and the GDC prosecutes these cases.
How many CPD hours do I need for the GDC?
Per five-year cycle: 100 hours for dentists; 75 for dental therapists, hygienists, orthodontic therapists and clinical dental technicians; 50 for dental nurses and dental technicians.
Can a dentist be erased because of ill health?
No. Under section 27B(7) of the Dentists Act, erasure cannot follow a finding of impairment based solely on adverse physical or mental health. Suspension or conditions can still be imposed.
Can I return to the register after erasure?
You cannot apply for restoration until five years after erasure, and you must show you are fit to practise.
Primary sources
27 official documents, laws and judgments
- GDC: Fitness to Practise Statistical Report 2025
- GDC: GDC publishes most detailed fitness to practise report to date (June 2026)
- GDC: PSA review 2024-25 (December 2025)
- PSA: General Dental Council performance reviews
- GDC: Consultation on a new Framework for Professionalism (June 2026)
- GDC: Consultations, including guidance for early-stage decision makers (2026)
- GDC: Research on participants' experiences of fitness to practise
- GDC: Standards for the Dental Team
- GDC: Dental Complaints Service
- Dentists Act 1984, section 27
- Dentists Act 1984, section 27B
- Dentists Act 1984, section 29 (appeals)
- GDC: Standards for the Dental Team, principle 9
- GDC: Dental professionals facing a concern
- GDC: Fitness to practise, more time for better outcomes (May 2021)
- GDC: Guidance for the Practice Committees (hearings from 6 January 2026)
- GDC: Consultation on case examiner guidance and undertakings bank (March 2026)
- Dental Professionals Hearings Service: Guidance and resources
- GDC: CPD scheme
- GDC: Indemnity guidance
- GDC: Illegal practice
- GDC: Updated guidance on voluntary removal (August 2024)
- GDC: Leaving the register
- General Dental Council v Aga [2025] EWCA Civ 68
- Dentists Act 1984, section 30 (immediate orders)
- Dentists Act 1984, section 32 (interim orders)
- Dentists Act 1984, section 28
