New GDC Scope of Practice guidance set to empower dental hygienists and dental therapists

19 September 2025 (Last updated: 19 Sep 2025 10:10)

The British Society of Dental Hygiene & Therapy (BSDHT) has welcomed the General Dental Council’s (GDC) revised Scope of Practice guidance, published earlier this week. The society was actively involved throughout its development, from the initial scoping to the consultation stages.

The updated framework, which comes into effect on 1 November 2025, provides much-needed clarity across all dental professional roles and places renewed emphasis on competence, training and indemnity as the foundations of safe practice.

For dental hygienists and dental therapists, the revised guidance represents an important step forward. By moving away from fixed task lists towards competency-based role descriptions, it enables all dental professionals to work confidently and exercise professional judgement, while ensuring patients receive safe and effective care.

Key updates for dental hygienists and dental therapists include:

• Clearer role boundaries: more precise definitions reduce uncertainty and support confident clinical decision-making
• Professional judgement: recognition that dental hygienists and dental therapists can carry out a wide range of treatments, provided they are trained, competent and indemnified (or insured), even where tasks are not itemised
• Direct access reaffirmed: patients can continue to see dental hygienists and dental therapists directly within their scope of practice, helping widen access to care
• Medicines: the ability to supply and administer certain prescription-only medicines under exemptions remains supported, with suitable training
• Education and CPD: training programmes and CPD will need to reflect the clarified competencies, ensuring dental hygienists and dental therapists are fully prepared for present-day practice
• Practice implications: employers and teams should review role boundaries, delegation, supervision, indemnity and referral policies in line with the new guidance.

Rhiannon Jones, President of the BSDHT, commented: ‘The GDC’s revised Scope of Practice guidance is a significant step forward. The clarity it brings is long overdue and will help dental hygienists and dental therapists practise with confidence, ensuring they can safely use their full skill set for the benefit of patients. Just as importantly, it highlights the role of skill mix in modern dentistry, showing how the whole dental team can contribute more effectively to widening access and improving outcomes. Professional title is only the starting point: competence, proper training and suitable indemnity remain essential.’

To support members in preparing for implementation of the new Scope of Practice guidance, the GDC will host an online Q&A webinar on the 16th October 6-7:30pm. The session will explore how the changes may impact everyday practice, provide examples of best practice, and answer member questions ahead of the November start date.

Registration is open: attendees can register at: https://lnkd.in/ebMksWFF, and the new guidance can be downloaded at tinyurl.com/SofP2025.

 

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