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.
At the time, many of us hoped that the GDC’s Q&A sessions would provide reassurance and clarity. However, after attending the dedicated webinar for dental nurses on 13 October 2025, many attendees were left seeking greater reassurance and clarity about what the changes would mean in practice.
Why dental nurses are concerned
As a registered dental nurse and founder of Dental Nurse Network, I have always been passionate about empowering dental nurses to work to their full scope of practice. The recent changes have the potential to affect how confidently dental nurses can do that. Concerns exist that the absence of clear definitions, boundaries, and guidance could potentially hinder rather than support dental nurses' progress. Without clarity around the scope of practice, many dental nurses will be left uncertain about what they can and cannot do, which risks limiting their ability to contribute fully to patient care and the wider dental team.
One of the most pressing concerns is indemnity. If a task is not explicitly stated in the scope of practice, we have found that indemnity providers will not provide cover. The GDC says that registrants must ensure they have indemnity, but how can they when indemnity providers will not insure tasks that are not clearly listed? This is already happening and could become a widespread barrier to dental nurses being able to practise to their full potential.
We have also seen cases where the GDC has said one thing, but accrediting or awarding bodies have said another. This conflicting information causes uncertainty, limits confidence, and risks stifling the very skill mix that benefits patients most.
There are two particular risks that need to be recognised and addressed.
- The first risk is that dental nurses will struggle to get indemnity because their scope of practice is no longer clearly laid out. Without explicit lists, providers may refuse cover, which will hinder dental nurses from working to their full skill mix. We cannot expect teams to keep referring back to the 2013 scope of practice for years to come. Once that is phased out, uncertainty will grow.
- The second risk, which is more of a concern among some of my colleagues, is that without clear professional boundaries, dental nurses could be asked to undertake tasks that are outside their remit. The guidance recommends using professional judgement, but it requires a clear understanding of the standards and boundaries.
Professional judgement comes from education, critical thinking skills, experience, and understanding of clear guidance. Without this clear guidance, even the most well-intentioned dental professionals are left vulnerable.
Job variety and skill mix are also essential for job satisfaction. There is nothing like working in a practice where your dentist fully supports your role as a dental nurse and allows you to use all your skills. You have such a strong sense of job satisfaction, and you become so much more committed to your role in patient care because you are fully involved in supporting patients throughout their treatment. When a dentist does not recognise a clear scope, or when there is nothing that clearly defines what is within that scope, this uncertainty risks holding the profession back and can have a negative impact on morale and job satisfaction.
What needs to happen next
The GDC has said it will publish further guidance, and I truly hope that happens soon. Dental nurses deserve clarity about what they can be trained, competent, and indemnified to do.
Dental nurses are essential to safe, high-quality patient care. With clear guidance, ongoing training, and mutual support, we can continue to strengthen our role and move the profession forwards together.
Written by Marama Millar RDN, Founder of Dental Nurse Network