GDC register checks and dentist references
How dental practices confirm GDC registration, and how to reference-check dentists, dental nurses and the rest of the team without chasing.
How do you do a GDC register check?
To do a GDC register check, search the General Dental Council's online registers at gdc-uk.org by name or GDC registration number. The entry shows registration status, registrant type, registration number and qualifications, and the GDC updates the registers daily. A GDC check confirms someone can practise; it does not tell you how they worked. RefAssure collects the written references for that part.
How to check dentist registration with the GDC
The General Dental Council (GDC) regulates dentists and dental care professionals in the UK. Dental care professionals (DCPs) include dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists, dental technicians, clinical dental technicians and orthodontic therapists. Anyone practising in those roles must be on the relevant GDC register.
Running the check
- Go to the GDC website and search the registers. Searching by GDC registration number is the most reliable way to find the right person.
- Confirm the registrant type matches the role you are filling, for example dentist or dental nurse.
- Check the status shows the person is registered, and look for any conditions or restrictions on the entry.
- If someone calls themselves a specialist, such as an orthodontist, check they are on the relevant GDC specialist list. Being registered as a dentist is not the same as being a specialist.
- Save or note the date of the check on the staff file.
The register does not hold telephone numbers or tell you whether someone works in NHS or private practice, so confirm work history through references.
Renewal dates to watch
Registration is renewed every year. Dentists renew by 31 December and DCPs by 31 July. Registrants who do not renew can be removed from the register, so it is worth re-checking your team after each deadline.
What a GDC check shows, and what it does not.
| GDC register check | Written reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered and able to practise | Yes | No |
| Registrant type and qualifications | Yes | Confirms role held |
| Specialist list entry | Yes | No |
| Clinical and professional conduct | Fitness to practise outcomes | Yes, from someone who worked with them |
| Concerns handled internally by a practice | No | Yes, if the referee is asked |
| Reason for leaving and re-employ | No | Yes |
Why dental practices still need references
Many concerns about a clinician are handled locally and never reach a regulator. A complaint, a record-keeping problem or a capability process may be handled within a practice and leave the GDC entry untouched. References are how you find out.
In England, dental practices that provide regulated activities are registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and must meet Regulation 19, fit and proper persons employed. Schedule 3 lists the information you must hold, including satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous employment in health or social care, and a full employment history with gaps explained. That applies to receptionists and practice managers as well as clinicians. See our CQC Regulation 19 guide.
What to ask a referee about a dentist or dental nurse
- Dates of employment, role and whether they worked as an associate, employee or locum
- Clinical competence, record keeping and infection control
- Conduct with patients and colleagues, including any complaints
- Any disciplinary, capability or fitness to practise processes
- Reason for leaving and whether they would re-employ
Associates often move between practices and start quickly, so their references are easy to skip. The same standard should apply. For dental nurses, ask the referee about chairside support, decontamination and how they communicated with anxious patients. For receptionists, ask about confidentiality, handling complaints and taking payments.
Dental references, chased for you.
Add your questions to a template once. RefAssure handles consent, sends the request and chases until the referee signs.
- Candidate consent collected online, with signature, before referees are contacted
- 5 emails and up to 2 texts over 12 days, stopping the moment the referee submits
- Bounced emails flagged, usually within minutes
- Median turnaround about 23 hours across 229 completed references
- Signed PDF with a timestamped audit trail, ready to show an inspector
GDC and dentist reference questions
More in the full FAQs.
Is a GDC registration check free?
Yes. The GDC registers are public and free to search on the GDC website. You can search by name, town or GDC registration number.
Do dental nurses need to be GDC registered?
Qualified dental nurses must be registered with the GDC as dental care professionals to work as dental nurses. Check the GDC website for its rules on trainees.
Does RefAssure check the GDC register?
No. RefAssure collects references and employment history. You check registration directly with the GDC, which is free and quick. RefAssure then handles the references and keeps the evidence.
How many references should a dental practice get?
Regulation 19 does not set a number. It asks for satisfactory evidence of conduct in previous health and social care roles. Many practices ask for two, including the most recent employer.
What does it cost?
Your first reference is free. After that, credits run from 99p to 80p each, with no monthly fee and no VAT added. See pricing.
How often should a practice re-check GDC registration?
Check at appointment, then again after each annual renewal deadline: 31 December for dentists and 31 July for dental care professionals. Keep a dated note of each check on the staff file.
Do associate dentists need references?
Yes. An associate working in a CQC-registered practice should be fit and proper under Regulation 19, whether self-employed or employed. Ask a principal or practice manager from a recent practice where they worked regularly.
Related guides
Registered, referenced, ready to start.
Your first reference is free. Two minutes to send, and RefAssure does the chasing.