How to check a dentist's GDC registration and CQC inspection report
By Dr Faiz Azizan Data last checked How we list clinics
To check a dentist, search their name or registration number on the General Dental Council online register, then find the practice on the Care Quality Commission website and read its latest inspection report. Neither check is done by this directory, so do both yourself before treatment.
Step 1: search the GDC register
Open the GDC online register, enter the dentist's name or GDC registration number, and check that they appear as currently registered. The register entry also shows the registrant's registration category, and any restrictions on practice would be shown there.
Step 2: find the practice on the CQC website
Search the practice name or postcode on the CQC website. Read the most recent inspection report for the location and note the date.
Step 3: compare with what the practice says
Practice websites often mention the GDC, the CQC or professional bodies. In this directory, 135 of 308 listed practices mention the GDC on their own websites. That is a statement by the practice, not something we have verified.
Where to look next
Browse practices by town, for example Dentists in Watford, Dentists in St Albans or Dentists in Hemel Hempstead, then run these checks for any practice you shortlist. For a wider checklist see How to choose a dentist in Hertfordshire: 8 checks.
What registration does and does not tell you
GDC registration means the person is currently allowed to practise as a dentist or dental care professional in the UK and is held to the GDC's standards. It does not tell you how good a particular dentist is at a particular treatment, and it does not replace asking questions about who will treat you.
A CQC inspection report describes how the practice was assessed on safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership on the date of inspection. Read the date, and read the detail rather than only the headline, because a practice can change after an inspection.
Red flags worth a second look
- A dentist who does not appear on the register under the name or number given.
- A practice that cannot tell you who is registered to carry out your treatment.
- "Specialist" used as a title without a matching entry on the GDC specialist list.
- Pressure to pay or commit before you have a written plan and cost.
If you are unsure, ask the practice, then check again with the GDC or CQC. You can also report concerns to them directly.
Sources
This guide is general information compiled by an independent directory, not clinical advice. See the disclaimer and methodology.