Dentists Act 1984
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 14 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
What you must do
14 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Management duties 1
Cooperate with registration investigations and committee hearings
If the dental regulator starts formal proceedings against your registration, you must respond to any notice, attend the hearing (or submit written representations), and follow any directions the Committee gives. You can be represented by a solicitor or counsel, and you must act within the time‑frames set out in the notice. Failure to comply can lead to cost orders or other sanctions.
Other requirements 1
Do not claim medical or general‑surgery registration or titles
Unlimited fineIf you hold a dental degree or licence, you must not present yourself as being registered under the Medical Act 1983 or use any name, title or designation that suggests you are a medical practitioner or general surgeon. Your practice, website, business cards and any other public material must avoid such misleading titles.
Offences and prohibitions 6
Carry on dentistry without being a registered dentist
Unlimited fineIf you run a dental practice or provide dental services and you are not a registered dentist (or an authorised dental care professional under the rules), you are committing an offence. On conviction you will face a summary‑court fine of up to an unlimited amount. No custodial sentence is provided for this breach.
Operate dentistry without qualified directors
Unlimited fineIf your dental practice runs with a majority of directors who are not registered dentists or registered dental care professionals, the company commits an offence. Likewise, any director who has been erased or suspended from the relevant professional register and continues to act as a director of a dental business also commits an offence. Conviction results in an unlimited fine dealt with in the magistrates' court.
Practice dentistry without registration
Unlimited fineIf someone who is not a registered dentist or a registered dental care professional (and is not in an approved adaptation period) carries out dental work or says they can provide dental services, they commit a criminal offence. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court they face an unlimited fine. No jail term is provided for this offence.
Use dentist title without registration
Unlimited fineIf you (or your business) call yourself a dentist, dental surgeon, dental practitioner or any other title that suggests you are a registered dental professional when you are not, you are committing an offence. The offence is triggered simply by using the prohibited title, whether on a business name, website, marketing material or any other public description. On conviction in the Magistrates' Court you face an unlimited fine.
Use unauthorised dental titles or descriptions
Fine up to £1,000If a registered dentist uses a title or description that suggests they have a qualification or professional status they do not actually hold (for example, calling themselves a specialist without being on the approved list), they breach the Dentists Act. On summary conviction in a magistrates’ court the offence carries a fine of up to level 3 on the standard scale (£1,000).
Use unauthorised dental titles or qualifications
Fine up to £1,000If a registered dental care professional advertises, displays or uses a title or description that suggests they hold a qualification they do not actually have, or uses a title not listed on the dental care professionals register, they commit a criminal offence. On conviction the offence is tried in the magistrates' court and can result in a fine of up to £1,000.
Registration and licensing 1
Provide required documents for dental registration
If you want to be listed on the dental register, you must submit an application together with the evidence the registrar asks for. This includes proof of your licence or qualification, your name and address details, and proof of appropriate indemnity cover. Certified copies are generally acceptable unless the registrar specifically asks for originals.
Reporting and filing 3
Provide requested information to the Dental Council
If you run a dental authority (e.g., a dental school or training body), you must give the Dental Council the details it asks for about the courses, exams and any conditions needed to get a dental degree, licence or diploma. The duty kicks in whenever the Council makes a request, and you need to supply the information promptly.
Respond to registrar’s enquiry about practice status
If you are a registered dentist and the registrar sends you a letter asking whether you have stopped practising or moved address, you must reply within six months. Failing to respond lets the registrar erase your name from the dentists register, which would stop you being listed as a qualified dentist.
Respond to Registrar’s enquiry within six months
If the dental regulator sends you a letter asking whether you have stopped practising or changed address, you must reply within six months. Failing to do so will result in your name being removed from the dental register. Keep a copy of the notice and your response as proof.
Training 2
Complete required professional training and development
If you are a registered dentist you must carry out any professional training or CPD that the regulator’s rules require. Failing to do so can lead to your name being removed from the dental register, which means you can no longer practise. Keep records of the training you complete to prove you are compliant.
Complete required training before restoring your dental registration
If your name has been removed from the dental register and you want it reinstated, you must first meet the professional training and development standards set by the rules. The training must be completed before you apply for restoration, and the rules cannot force you to practice dentistry as part of that training.
Penalties for non-compliance
7 penalties under this legislation. 5 carry an unlimited fine.
Do not claim medical or general‑surgery registration or titles
Unlimited fine
Carry on dentistry without being a registered dentist
Unlimited fine
Operate dentistry without qualified directors
Unlimited fine
Practice dentistry without registration
Unlimited fine
Use dentist title without registration
Unlimited fine
Use unauthorised dental titles or descriptions
Fine up to £1,000
Use unauthorised dental titles or qualifications
Fine up to £1,000
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Sections and provisions
140 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 36
- Schedule 1 The Council and Committees of the Council: Supplementary Provisions The Privy Council
- s.2B Annual reports, statistical reports and strategic plans
- s.2E Registration of members’ private interests
- s.2A The Council’s duty to co-operate
- s.2C Accounts
- s.4 Conduct of examinations for degrees and licences. examinations
- s.5 Holding of examinations and grant of licences by Royal College of Surgeons of England. licence so granted
- s.6 Requirements in relation to admission of candidates to examinations and grant of degrees and licences. a dental authority
- s.7 Effect of grant of degree or licence in dentistry. right or title
- s.8 Information to be furnished by dental authorities. dental authority
- s.11 Remedy where qualifying courses of study or examinations are inadequate. person
- s.15ZA Section 15: further provision relating to specified state professionals the Council
- s.15A Supplementary provisions as to the necessary knowledge of English
- s.18 Procedure for registration. right
- s.22 Publication of the register such copy or extract
- s.23 Erasure of names of deceased persons and of those who have ceased to practise.
- s.24 Erasure on grounds of fraud or error
- s.26C Information for specified state professionals
- s.26B Guidance The Council
- s.27B The Practice Committees
- ... and 16 more duties
Offences and penalties 6
Powers 23
- s.2D Complaints
- s.9 Supervision of instruction given by dental schools and post-graduate institutions.
- s.10 Supervision of examinations.
- s.12A Degrees and licences in dentistry
- s.12 Candidates not to be required to adopt or reject particular theories of dentistry.
- s.16A Requisite knowledge and skill: holders of overseas diplomas
- s.16B Requisite knowledge and skill: recognition of overseas diplomas
- s.19 Regulations with respect to the register.
- s.27C Resumed hearings
- s.27AA Delegation of the Investigating Committee’s functions under section 27A
- s.27AB Review of determination under section 27A(1)
- s.36OA Delegation of the Investigating Committee’s functions under section 36O
- s.36OB Review of determination under section 36O(1)
- s.36E Rules relating to the dental care professionals register
- s.36Q Resumed hearings
- s.36CB Requisite knowledge and skill: holders of relevant qualifications
- s.36CC Requisite knowledge and skill: recognition of relevant qualifications
- s.43A Provision of information and payment of fees by bodies corporate
- s.43B Financial penalties in relation to bodies corporate
- s.44 Further financial penalties on bodies corporate
- ... and 3 more powers
Definitions 27
- s.1 Constitution and general duties of the Council.
- Schedule 2 European Dental Qualifications
- s.2 Committees of the Council. Practice Committee
- s.3 Power of medical authorities to hold examinations and grant licences in dentistry. medical authority
- Schedule 4 VISITING DENTISTS FROM RELEVANT EUROPEAN STATES
- s.14 The dentists register and the registrar
- s.21A Notification of results of application
- s.26A Indemnity arrangements
- s.27 Allegations regulatory body
- s.29 Appeals.
- s.29A Taking effect of directions for erasure, suspension, conditional registration etc.
- s.32 Interim orders the court
- s.33B The Council’s power to require disclosure of information relevant enactment relevant provision of the UK GDPR the relevant court
- s.36V Interim orders the court
- s.36Y The Council’s power to require disclosure of information relevant enactment relevant provision of the UK GDPR the relevant court
- s.36EA Applications by specified state professionals under section 36C
- s.36S Appeals
- s.36L Indemnity arrangements
- s.36F Fees
- s.36T Taking effect of directions for erasure, suspension, conditional registration etc.
- ... and 7 more definitions