What do you know about the GDC

The General Dental Council, also known as the GDC, is the regulatory body for dental professionals. Their aim is to protect patients and to protect the dental profession.

The GDC also ensures that qualified dental professionals are allowed to practise and sets the standards of quality and care given. The GDC can also revoke your right to practise if you fail to meet the standards. They also play a role in dental education and training, ensuring the education provided is up to standard. They also process any complaints by patients or other members of the dental team.

There are 9 GDC principles that you should be aware of, taken from the website itself:

• Put patients' interest first
• Communicate effectively with patients
• Obtain valid consent
• Maintain and protect patients' information
• Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
• Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients' best interests
• Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills
• Raise concerns if patients are at risk
• Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients' confidence in you and the dental profession

Make sure you make it clear to the interviewer that you will ensure that you follow these standards that are expected of you in order to protect patients and the dental profession.

Suggested structure for this question:

• Name what the GDC is- regulatory body for dental professionals
• Outline the brief roles of the GDC
• Talk about the 9 GDC principles and why these are important to adhere to