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Assessment and safeguarding

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is a role the whole team has to play. Get advice on this, as well as consent, sedation and working with latex.

Health, safety and risk assessment

Working in a dental practice, you should be able to identify where access barriers are, what could be a hazard and cause harm and whether adequate controls are in place. All staff and patients have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to implement reasonable control measures.

Infection prevention and control

All health care sectors are subject to stringent infection prevention and control measures, and dentistry is no exception. This advice provides an overview of the requirements that you must follow to meet the recommendations relevant to the country where you practice.

Medical emergencies

Medical emergencies in a dental practice can happen at any time and you must be confident that you and members of your team know what to do, including recognising the need to summon help.

Prescribing

Get a general introduction to prescribing and dispensing medicines to dental patients, as well as working with cosmetic injectables, tooth whitening and sedation.

Safeguarding

The dental team has an ethical responsibility to find out about local protection procedures for adults, children and young people and to follow them if they are or might be at risk of abuse or neglect (Standards for the Dental Team. GDC, 2013).

Measles outbreak FAQs

The NHS released guidance following a measles outbreak in the Midlands and Yorkshire areas in February 2024. The guidance states that organisations should have immunisation status/records available for all staff (clinical and non-clinical). We answer your frequently asked questions.

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Advice

Infection prevention and control

Sepsis

This advice examines how to manage sepsis appropriately, including recognising signs and symptoms, management, referral and follow up.

Advice

Prescribing

Tooth whitening

Understand the legal, professional and good practice requirements of offering tooth whitening options to your patients.

Advice

Assessment and safeguarding

Safeguarding patients

Safeguarding practices reduce the opportunities for children and adults to experience abuse and neglect. This advice outlines current expectations on safeguarding practice for members of the dental team.

Advice

Prescribing

Sedation

How to meet your professional responsibilities towards your patients and protect those involved with delivering dental care under sedation.

Advice

Patient information and complaints

Complaints handling

This advice will help you develop a practice protocol for receiving and managing complaints within agreed timescales and, where relevant, complying with NHS requirements.

Advice

Medical emergencies

Emergency drugs

Download and print this A4 poster on emergency drugs, created by Dr Phil Jevon of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

Advice

Medical emergencies

Medical emergencies

This advice summarises the guidance published by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and, alongside practical training, will help you meet your professional obligations and responsibilities.

Advice

Prescribing

Prescribing and medicines management

A general introduction to prescribing and dispensing medicines to dental patients.

Advice

Assessment and safeguarding

Consent

This advice will help you to meet your requirements for obtaining consent from your patients prior to providing their dental care and treatment.

Advice

Health, safety and risk assessment

Health and safety

This advice provides a summary of the general and specific health and safety requirements that apply to the dental environment.

Advice

Health, safety and risk assessment

Medical devices

Understand how medical devices are regulated in the UK and the implications for your practice and your patients.

Advice

Health, safety and risk assessment

Occupational health

Further reading

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Blog

The increasing popularity of orthodontic treatments

​Like many areas of practice, orthodontic treatments are a popular specialism requiring knowledge and time to perfect clinical skills.

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Blog

Court ruling impacts on alternative treatment options

Over the years, the concept of consent has not changed. Providing treatment without consent is still deemed unlawful and can be considered as battery.