As dental professionals, we’re often the first to spot the signs of sugar creeping into children’s diets. Early enamel erosion, tiny carious lesions in first molars, and parents genuinely confused as to how it’s happened when they’re “doing everything right”.

When the General Dental Council (GDC) announced its updated Scope of Practice and Safe Practitioner Framework, I wrote an article outlining our initial concerns about what these changes could mean for dental nurses. You can read that article here.

The General Dental Council (GDC) has updated its guidance on Scope of Practice, which will come into effect on 1 November 2025.

The GDC has stated that these updates do not change the scope of any profession. Dental nurses, along with all other registrant groups, will continue to work within the same remit. The new guidance aims to bring greater clarity to professional boundaries and support registrants in using their professional judgement in the best interests of patients. But does it?

The government’s latest consultation on NHS dentistry (July–August 2025) included one proposal that could directly affect dental nurses. It is not confirmed yet, but if taken forward, it could change how fluoride varnish is recognised under the NHS contract.

Dental nurses with an oral health education qualification play a vital role in educating patients on the importance of oral health. The best way to utilise this qualification is by planning and carrying out oral health education sessions regularly. These can be one-on-one with patients in practice or in a group environment in the wider community. Regardless of the setting, these sessions require good organisation and planning to ensure a structured session is delivered with effective learning.