I took my Oral Health Education qualification online in 2011. I had just started working at a new practice which had a nurse who already ran an oral health education appointment book. However, she had plans to leave the practice and so I had been asked at my interview whether I would be interested in taking the qualification and continuing her work in this area when she left.

As members of a professional workforce, it is easy to assume that everyone in our profession works to the same standards at all times, and that we are all working in environments where relevant guidelines are strictly followed.

The GDC Standards document governs us as dental professionals. It specifies the principles, standards and guidance which apply to all dental professionals. It also sets out what patients can expect from dental professionals. Principle 9 ensures our behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in the dental profession. Principle 9 is:

When you started out on your path to becoming a dental care professional, the matter of indemnity insurance will have arisen. Along with your initial registration with the GDC, this is something that is an integral part of belonging to a professional body.

In the weeks running up to the summer holiday period you may have had patients come in to enquire about getting passport photographs signed. A person with the status of ‘dental surgeon’ is an obvious choice, alongside GPs, bank officials and teachers.