Guides

Five people in a waiting room
Quality assurance and patient safety

5 August 2022

Dental practices are expected to have a quality assurance system in place to monitor services and improve them if necessary.

False teeth holding cigarette
Asking patients about drinking and smoking habits

27 July 2022

Asking patients if they drink or smoke often forms an important part of a consultation and treatment plan - but it can feel intrusive.

duty of candour
Statutory duty of candour

14 July 2022

A practical guide to the statutory duty of candour and your obligations.

Close-up of dental instruments
The role of the GDC

28 June 2022

The GDC's role is to protect patients and set standards of dental practice and conduct through statutory registration.

Doctor talking to patient
Effective complaint handling

28 June 2022

Handling complaints quickly and effectively is key to avoid the situation escalating.

Man complaining to doctor
Managing patient expectations

22 June 2022

Patients and dental professionals may sometimes have different expectations about the outcome of treatment.

People at computer
GDPR: five things dental practices need to have in place

21 June 2022

A GDPR checklist for dental practices, including fundamental requirements to comply with data protection law.

Writing a report
How to write a response to a complaint

15 June 2022

A properly composed written response is a crucial part of the overall complaints procedure.

Man's hands typing on keyboard
NHS complaints procedure: the ombudsman

6 June 2022

Complaints can be escalated to the ombudsman if a local resolution is unsuccessful.

Healthcare professional in a meeting
Risk management for better patient safety

19 May 2022

Effective risk management can help identify, prioritise and manage threats to patient safety.