ABSTRACT
Quality and standards are at the very heart of the activities of a professional regulatory body and for the dental profession that body is the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC was established in 1956 by a Dentists Act, so creating an independent profession. At the present time the GDC operates in line with the current legislation which is contained within the 1984 Dentists Act. The mission of the GDC clearly states that it is the regulatory body of the dental profession; it protects the public by means of its statutory responsibilities for dental education, registration, professional conduct and health. The major activities of the Council, that is registration, education, conduct and health and dental auxiliaries (PCDs), are conducted through committees on which members of the Council serve. There are two categories of registration: full and temporary. The Council ensures the highest standards of education throughout the lifetime of a dentist.
