Professionalism and Professional Standards for Dentists & Dental Professionals

Professionalism and Professional Standards for Dentists & Dental Professionals is a CPD-accredited online course designed specifically for dentists and dental professionals working in the United Kingdom. The course supports dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental nurses, and orthodontic therapists in understanding, applying, and reflecting on professional standards set by the General Dental Council (GDC).

It is particularly relevant for dental professionals facing complaints, investigations, or fitness-to-practise processes, as well as those seeking to strengthen professionalism, accountability, and patient-centred care in everyday dental practice.

Professionalism is central to safe, ethical, and effective dental practice. Concerns relating to conduct, communication, boundaries, honesty, consent, or competence are among the most common reasons for GDC complaints and regulatory scrutiny.

The GDC expects dental professionals to put patients’ interests first, act with integrity, maintain trust, and work within their competence at all times. This course provides clear, practical guidance on meeting GDC expectations, recognising lapses early, and responding constructively through reflection and remediation where concerns arise.

This course is suitable for UK-based dental professionals, including:

• Dentists
• Dental hygienists
• Dental therapists
• Dental nurses
• Orthodontic therapists
• Dental professionals working in NHS and independent dental settings
• Professionals regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC)
• Practitioners facing complaints, investigations, fitness-to-practise proceedings, or remediation
• Dental professionals seeking CPD evidence for appraisal, revalidation, employer review, or regulatory submissions

The course explores:

• What professionalism means in modern dental practice
• Core principles of professionalism, including patient-centred care, integrity, honesty, accountability, and teamwork
• Effective communication, empathy, respect, and cultural sensitivity
• Maintaining professional boundaries with patients and colleagues
• Confidentiality, privacy, and information governance
• Working within limits of competence and maintaining professional skills
• The GDC Standards for the Dental Team and how they are applied in practice
• Recognising breaches of professional standards and their consequences
• Responding to complaints, concerns, and fitness-to-practise processes
• Reflective practice, insight, and remediation
• Developing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) to demonstrate learning and improvement

On successful completion of this course, participants will receive:

• CPD UK certified accreditation
• An accredited CPD certificate
• CPD evidence suitable for appraisal, revalidation, remediation, and professional portfolios

This course is aligned with the General Dental Council’s Standards for the Dental Team and related guidance.

It supports dental professionals in demonstrating professionalism, insight, accountability, and fitness to practise — particularly where concerns have been raised about conduct, consent, communication, boundaries, or ethical behaviour.

This online course is relevant to dental professionals working across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in both National Health Service and independent dental settings.