Joint announcement from the BADT and BSDHT

17 August 2020

The British Association of Dental Therapists (BADT) and the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy (BSDHT) have taken the unusual step of directly contacting each appointed council member of the General Dental Council regarding overseas dentists registering as dental therapists and dental hygienists without any practical assessment of clinical skills.

Both the BADT and the BSDHT feel that continuing interactions with the executive function of the GDC regarding this matter have failed to produce any positive movement towards change in a situation that both organisations feel compromises patient safety. By directly raising awareness to the appointed council members, the BADT and BSDHT hope to move the discussion into the public forum to ensure change, in order to "protect patient safety and maintain public confidence in dental services.