UK Act of Parliament 1984 United Kingdom

Dentists Act 1984

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At a glance

Enforced by

GDC

What's here

43 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide · 2 journeys

Penalty landscape

4 of 43 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 37 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 11
  • Director or Officer 1
  • Trader 1

Plus 30 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Supporting — topic alignment

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Directors and Officers also bound by 224 other Acts (top 5 shown)
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — The General Dental Council

s.002

The Council’s duty to co-operate

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • General Dental Council must co-operate with employers and other regulators Statutory regulator
s.002

Annual reports, statistical reports and strategic plans

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must publish annual reports, statistics, and strategic plans Statutory regulator
s.002

Accounts

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must maintain, audit, and publish annual accounts Statutory regulator
s.002

Registration of members’ private interests

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must maintain and publish a register of members' private interests Statutory regulator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.002

Complaints

Part II — Dental Education

Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.012

Degrees and licences in dentistry

Part 3A — Professions Complementary to Dentistry

s.036

Supplementary provisions as to necessary knowledge of English

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must publish and review guidance on English language requirements Statutory regulator
s.036

Education and training for members of professions complementary to dentistry

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must set standards and approve qualifications for dental care professionals Statutory regulator
s.036

Publication of the dental care professionals register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Registrar must publish and maintain the dental care professionals register Statutory regulator
s.036

Erasure of names of deceased persons and of those who have ceased to practise

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Registrar must maintain the dental care professionals register Statutory regulator
s.036

Erasure on grounds of fraud or error

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must erase incorrect or fraudulent dental register entries Statutory regulator
s.036

Use of titles and descriptions

Fine up to £1,000
  • Use of unauthorized professional titles or qualifications Any Person
s.036

Guidance

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must provide standards and conduct guidance for dental professionals Statutory regulator
s.036

Information for specified state professionals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must provide registration and standards information to overseas dental professionals Statutory regulator
s.036

The Practice Committees

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Practice Committees must investigate and determine fitness to practise Statutory regulator
s.036

Recording of suspension or conditional registration etc.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Registrar must update the register regarding suspensions and conditions Statutory regulator
Browse 23 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.036

Professions complementary to dentistry

s.036

The dental care professionals register

s.036

Qualifications for registration

s.036

Requisite knowledge and skill: holders of relevant qualifications

s.036

Requisite knowledge and skill: recognition of relevant qualifications

s.036

Rules relating to the dental care professionals register

s.036

Applications by specified state professionals under section 36C

s.036

Fees

s.036

Registration appeals

s.036

Indemnity arrangements

s.036

Allegations

s.036

The Investigating Committee

s.036

Delegation of the Investigating Committee’s functions under section 36O

s.036

Review of determination under section 36O(1)

s.036

Resumed hearings

s.036

Restoration of names to the dental care professionals register following erasure under section 36P

s.036

Appeals

s.036

Taking effect of directions for erasure, suspension, conditional registration etc.

s.036

Orders for immediate suspension and immediate conditional registration

s.036

Interim orders

s.036

Supplementary provisions relating to fitness to practise cases

s.036

The Council’s power to require disclosure of information

s.036

Limits on section 36Z1 as respects visiting dental care professionals

Part III — The Dental Profession

s.015

Supplementary provisions as to the necessary knowledge of English

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must provide guidance on English language requirements for dentists Statutory regulator
s.015

Section 15: further provision relating to specified state professionals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must specify and schedule qualification tests for certain dentists Statutory regulator
s.022

Publication of the register

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Registrar must make the dentists register available to the public Statutory regulator
s.026

Guidance

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must publish and consult on standards for dentists Statutory regulator
s.026

Information for specified state professionals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must provide information and handle enquiries for dental professionals Statutory regulator
s.027

The Practice Committees

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Practice Committees must investigate and rule on fitness to practise Statutory regulator
s.033

Recording of suspension or conditional registration etc.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Registrar must update the register regarding dental fitness to practise Statutory regulator
s.033

Notification and disclosure by the Council

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must notify employers and ministers of fitness to practise allegations Statutory regulator
s.034

Professional training and development requirements

  • Complete required professional training and development Any Person
s.034

Restoration of name to the register: professional training and development

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must set training requirements for restoring dental registrations Statutory regulator
Browse 32 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.016

Requisite knowledge and skill: holders of overseas diplomas

s.016

Requisite knowledge and skill: recognition of overseas diplomas

s.021

Notification of results of application

s.025

Registration appeals

s.026

Indemnity arrangements

s.027

The Investigating Committee

s.027

Delegation of the Investigating Committee’s functions under section 27A

s.027

Review of determination under section 27A(1)

s.027

Resumed hearings

s.029

Taking effect of directions for erasure, suspension, conditional registration etc.

s.033

The Council’s power to require disclosure of information

s.034

Limits on section 34A as respects visiting dentists from relevant European States

s.036

The Directive: designation of competent authority etc.

s.036

Fees for provision of certificates

Part IV — Restrictions on Practice of Dentistry and on Carrying on Business of Dentistry

s.043

Provision of information and payment of fees by bodies corporate

  • Provide dental business information and pay fees to the GDC Trader
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.043

Financial penalties in relation to bodies corporate

s.044

Supplementary provisions relating to financial penalties under sections 43B and 44

s.044

Appeals relating to financial penalties

Part V — Dental Auxiliaries

Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VI — Miscellaneous and Supplementary

Browse 13 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.049

Advisers

s.050

Service of notifications

s.050

Publication of information

s.050

Rules

s.050

Rules: consultation requirements

Schedules

s.sch004b

Proceedings before the Investigating Committee, the Interim Orders Committee and Practice Committees: dental care professionals

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC Committees must follow fair procedures in dental professional cases Statutory regulator
s.sch004c

Advisers

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • GDC must appoint legal, medical and professional advisers Statutory regulator
Browse 9 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch002a

Registration appeals: dentists register

s.sch003a

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CASES

s.sch004a

Registration appeals: dental care professionals register

s.sch004za

DIRECTIVE 2005/36: FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 36ZA(3)

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

GDC

General Dental Council

Statutory regulator for dentists, dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians, and orthodontic therapists in the UK.

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