About Specialists

Most people who attend their local dentist regularly, receive a high standard of dental care and suffer few problems. However, there are still many people who, for a variety of reasons, have significant dental or periodontal (gum) problems that are difficult or too challenging to treat effectively in general dental practice.

It is now considered good practice for general dentists to refer patients, with the more complex dental problems, to registered specialists or consultants. Referrals may be for a second opinion and/or specialist dental treatment. This commonly happens in general medical practice and has now become the norm in general dental practice.

The General Dental Council (GDC) is the organisation which regulates dental professionals in the United Kingdom and its purpose is to protect the public. All dentists must be registered with the GDC to work in the UK.

The GDC maintains the General Dentists Register and in addition holds lists of dental specialists. These Specialist Lists enable patients to identify registered dentists who have met certain requirements and been given the right by the GDC to call themselves a ‘specialist’. Any registered dentist can work in a particular branch of dentistry (such as orthodontics or oral surgery), but only those on the GDC’s Specialist Lists can call themselves a ‘specialist’.

Registered dentists must apply for registration on the Specialist Lists and entry is only granted if a dentist meets certain minimum standards of training. The routes for entry are determined by European and GDC regulations.

Here are some of the specialties relevant to this web site:-

Endodontics
Concerned with the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the tooth root, dental pulp, and surrounding tissue.

Periodontics
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases and disorders (infections and inflammatory) of the gums and other structures around the teeth

Prosthodontics
Replacement of missing teeth and the associated soft and hard tissues by prostheses (crowns, bridges, dentures) which may be fixed or removable, or may be supported and retained by implants.

Restorative Dentistry
Deals with the restoration of diseased, injured, or abnormal teeth to normal function. Includes all aspects of Endodontics, Periodontics and Prosthodontics.

GDC Website
Please click here to visit the official GDC Website