One of the most valuable aspects of dentistry is the connection between professionals, creating a network that can aid patient outcomes.
Referrals for specialist imaging needs are commonplace. It can be essential for complex work, particularly oral surgery, dental implant placement and endodontic care.
To become a go-to source for referrals, it’s important to understand current guidelines around the support provided. These can then be used to optimise business growth potential for the practice, as well as improve the team’s standing in the professional sphere as a source of reliable support.
Safely accepting referrals
‘Standards for the Dental Team’ by the General Dental Council (GDC) dictates the conversation about safe, ethical and effective referrals for dental imaging. Clinicians are held to standard 1.7.6, which notes that referrals to another member of the dental team must be in the patient’s best interests rather than that of the referring clinician or another team member, including for financial gain or benefit.[i] This ensures clinicians focus on providing high-quality care first and foremost, giving patients confidence that they are receiving the best possible service available.
The same guidelines also establish when referrals are warranted. Standard 6.3.3 notes that patients should be referred if their treatment is outside of the scope of the presiding clinician.i This does not absolve the referring clinician of complete accountability. Instead, they can still be held to the actions of the professional they refer to, as it is their responsibility to ensure said professional is trained, competent and indemnified.i
In many cases, dental professionals will have some training in dental imaging. However, the limitations afforded by the solutions in their practice will be the prompt for a referral, and would be grounded in Standard 6.3.3 as a result.
A clinician receiving a referral must only accept if they have the knowledge and skills to complete the requested care. If a practice is trying to increase its referral services for dental imaging, a clinician must be able to safely manage radiographic and digital workflows, with this knowledge tailored to the systems that they use, and ensure patient safety is always prioritised.
If a patient has a disability, they may need reasonable adjustments to their care. Where these cannot be made in order to safely treat a patient, clinicians once again have the responsibility to organise a referral.i Practices looking to increase referrals should ensure their facilities are designed to accommodate as many patients as possible, and make safe and considered changes for individuals with disabilities.
Ethical business development
Referrals can be an effective source of income for a practice. However, it’s vital that charges are ethical and appropriate when they accept a referral for dental imaging.
Since the GDC demands that patients’ interests are prioritised over financial gain,i practices should avoid referral fees. Instead, they should only invoice the initial referring practice for treatment costs, much in the same way that they would charge any individual that they already care for at the practice. This should be reflected in the patient’s original treatment plan in order to keep them fully informed about treatment costs before they proceed with a designated route of care.
Selecting your solutions
If investing in an imaging system that can increase referrals, as well as support inhouse treatments, it’s important to select a solution that produces high-quality results. A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) system is favourable, and clinicians should look for high CBCT resolution to assess the tiniest clinical details, as well as additions such as metal artifact reduction technology, which can improve the visibility of results for patients with numerous amalgam restorations. A versatile solution would include different imaging modalities, and offer benefits for a wider range of treatment plans, increasing the number of patients that can be supported. With awareness for referrals for patients with disabilities, a system that is designed to support a variety of treatment needs is ideal compared to inflexible alternatives.
The choice between solutions is made simple with the CS 8200 3D Access CBCT Scanner, from Carestream Dental. As a scalable 4-in-1 system, it can grow with your practice, and introduce CBCT imaging, 2D panoramic and cephalometric imaging, as well as 3D model scanning to your practice’s repertoire. A low dose mode is designed to minimise risks for patients, and an ultra-compact, smart design means it can fit into smaller practices. The solution’s height is also adjustable, for patients that need to stand or stay seated during an examination.
Referrals are a key part of modern dentistry, and will continue to be in future. Choosing high-quality systems in your practice can help to establish opportunities to accept referrals, but safe treatment can only be delivered when all guidance is followed to the letter.
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Author: Nimisha Nariapara – Trade Marketing Manager at Carestream Dental covering the UK, Middle East, Nordics, South Africa, Russia and CIS regions.
[i] General Dental Council, (2019). Standards for the Dental Team. (Online) Available at: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pdf/Standards%20for%20the%20Dental%20Team.pdf [Accessed August 2025]
