Dental Qualifications

As with all professionals it is important that the person who is looking after your dental care is fully and appropriately qualified, as well as registered with the GDC- General Dental Council

In the past few years travelling abroad for dental work has become popular, therefore checking qualifications is very important. You need to make sure you have written confirmation that the standards that are maintained equal UK standards, and make sure you feel confident of the after care service can you expect to receive if you intend travelling abroad for treatment.

Check your dentist is registered
http://www.gdc-uk.org/General+public/Check+a+professional+is+registered/

Quote from the website of the General Dental Council
“The Dentists Act 1984 makes it an offence for a person who is not a registered dentist or a registered dental care professional to practise dentistry, or hold themselves out - whether directly or by implication - as practising or as being prepared to practise dentistry”
By law, the following groups of professionals have to be registered with the General Dental Council to work in the UK:

• Dentists
• Clinical dental technicians
• Dental hygienists
• Dental nurses
• Dental technicians
• Dental therapists
• Orthodontic therapists

Once dentists have completed their dentistry degree they are awarded the following abbreviations after their name:

• BDS  - Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• BChD - Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• MFDSRCS -  Member in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons
• FDSRCS - Fellow in Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons. 

When a dentist has undertaken postgraduate study and specialised the initials MClinDent – prosthodontics or MSc for Endodontics or Implant Dentistry is added to their initial qualifications.