General Dental Council

What is the GDC?

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the regulatory body which governs the dental profession and professions complementary to dentistry. Its powers derive from the Dentists Act 1984 (DA 1984).

When exercising its functions the GDC is required:

1. •

   to have regard to the interests of persons using or needing services of registered dentists or registered dental care professionals in the UK (ie protection of the public)

2. •

   to have regard for any differing interests of different categories of registered dentists or registered dental care professionals

3. •

   to promote high standards of education at all its stages in all aspects of dentistry

4. •

   to promote high standards of professional conduct, performance and practice among persons registered under DA 1984

DA 1984 established six committees to carry out the principal regulatory and disciplinary functions of the GDC. Three of these committees are collectively described as 'practice committees'. They are:

1. •

   the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC)

2. •

   the Health Committee (HC)

3. •

   the Professional Performance Committee

The other three committees are:

1. •

   the Investigating Committee

2. •

   the Interim Orders Committee (IOC), and

3. •

   the Registration