Dental Protection

Dental Protection achieves Menopause Friendly Accreditation

Dental Protection – the world’s leading not-for-profit, member-owned dental defence organisation – is proud to achieve the industry-recognised Menopause Friendly Accreditation. 

Dental Protection, part of Medical Protection Society (MPS), serves and supports the profession, including looking after the physical health and emotional wellbeing of its members and people, most of whom are female.

Committed to understanding the various factors which can negatively affect a woman’s wellbeing and ability to flourish at work, MPS recognised the need to talk openly about menopause and put the right support in place for those who need it.

MPS became a Menopause Friendly member in 2022 and embarked upon implementing operational and cultural changes to support its colleagues.

A wide range of interventions created and led by colleagues include:

  • Establishing a MenoChat group, which provides amazing peer-to-peer support and has been instrumental in helping people to manage the symptoms of menopause in a safe, friendly environment.
  • ‘Ask me anything’ sessions which have been significant in normalising the conversation.
  • The formation of a Menopause Network which seeks to understand the wider impacts on colleagues and the business, build awareness and smash taboos.
  • Training and supporting Menopause Advocates.
  • Conducting Menopause Awareness training for senior leaders, managers and colleagues.
  • Calling for more training, support and flexible working arrangements for dentists and dental professionals going through the menopause, to reduce the risk of a potential exodus of passionate and skilled clinicians from the workforce.
  • Providing free, confidential counselling for their members who are struggling with menopause symptoms at work.

“We’ve seen perceptions change and know people now feel confident to open up and talk about menopause with their peers and manager,” says Professor Dame Jane Dacre, MPS President. “We decided to apply for the Menopause Friendly Accreditation to show our members, colleagues and stakeholders that we take this very seriously as a long-term commitment and aren’t simply following the media trend or ticking a box,” she says.

High standards

The Menopause Friendly Accreditation, established by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace (www.menopausefriendly.co.uk), recognises high standards and proven practices that embrace menopause in the workplace. Employers are required to demonstrate evidence of their effectiveness in six key areas, namely: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement, facilities and evaluation. As such, the Menopause Friendly Accreditation is truly meaningful and considered by many as a mark of excellence for menopause in the workplace.

“Working with Henpicked and Menopause Friendly Accreditation has given MPS an excellent opportunity to learn best practice from, and benchmark ourselves against, other inclusive organisations,” says Lisa Davis, Executive Director of People and Culture at MPS.

Cultural change

“Our Menopause Network and monthly support groups have seen a high level of engagement in the topic – in team meetings, blogs and colleague forums,” continues Lisa. “Particularly good to see is that we have people from across the business, many of whom are not directly affected, asking what they can do to support their fellow colleagues, family members and friends.”

Being menopause friendly enriches an organisation’s culture and MPS believes an important first step is to assess where an organisation sits culturally and to what level people are aware of menopause and how the symptoms can add additional challenges to working.

“We have a diverse workforce spanning four continents,” says Jane. “We recognise menopause and the associated symptoms vary widely, and regional and cultural differences may further affect each woman’s experience.  Therefore, we took onboard feedback from our colleagues to ensure our support is fully inclusive and respectful of different views.

“One highlight for me was to learn from some colleagues that menopause is seen as a time to focus more on one’s spiritual and inner life and is something to be embraced. This refreshing and positive view is certainly one we share and encourage.”

To find out more about The Menopause Friendly Accreditation, visit www.menopausefriendly.co.uk

To find out more about MPS’s Supporting doctors through the menopause, click here.

GDC investigations and the heavy toll on mental health

Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection

At Dental Protection, we see day in day out how GDC investigations impact on dental professionals’ health – anxiety, insomnia, depression and loss of confidence are just some of the effects we see.

A Dental Protection survey of 125 dental professionals who have been investigated by the dental regulator in the last five years, shines a light on this issue. 82% of respondents said the investigation had a detrimental impact on their mental health and 96% said it caused stress and anxiety. 14% quit dentistry due to the investigation, and a further 38% considered leaving. Worryingly, over a quarter (28%) said they experienced suicidal thoughts during the process.

To have your fitness to practise called into question and jeopardised can be devastating. Comments from dentists who participated in the survey encapsulate this, one described it as “the most distressful situation I faced in my life”. Another said “I was in serious distress, unable to sleep at night and I could not focus on work or care for my family. I could not find any pleasure in my daily life. I was questioning myself even for the simplest clinical matters. I considered leaving dentistry many times.”

Many highlighted the tone of the GDC’s correspondence as having the most impact on their mental health, including feeling as though they were “guilty until proven innocent” right from the outset. Others told us the length of the GDC investigation affected them most, with investigations lasting several years in some instances.

Without doubt, delays to investigations make an already stressful situation much worse, and this has been noted by the Professional Standards Authority – the organisation tasked with overseeing the performance of the GDC and other professional regulators. In its 2021/2022 review of the regulator, the PSA said the GDC did not meet its Standard of Good Regulation for timeliness in fitness to practise. It said it is taking too long to progress cases through the system, and the number of open older cases has increased.

This is the fifth year in a row that the GDC has not met the Standard, and the PSA has escalated its concerns to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

GDC reform would give the regulator discretion to not take forward investigations where allegations clearly do not require action, to focus on the most serious allegations and process them more quickly, and the Government must progress this with more urgency – starting with at least clear timetable for GDC reform. But the GDC can and should make more progress in the meantime – it must deliver on its 2021 commitment to tackle the delays to cases itself, through alternative ways of managing the caseload and increasing the size of its team.

We would also like to see the GDC acknowledge the impact an investigation may have on mental health in its letters. Compassion comes at no cost to the GDC, but can mean so much to the dentist on the receiving end of a potentially career changing – and sometimes life changing – letter. Ensuring correspondence is accessible across all devices is another simple improvement it could make to reduce additional stress to the dentist.

Could the GDC go further and consider introducing an independent 24/7 wellbeing support service for those who are facing, or who have faced, an investigation? The regulator may argue this is not necessary, and that it signposts to relevant external support services, but I feel our survey data tells a different story.

While we know over a quarter of dentists under investigation experienced suicidal thoughts during the process, we do not as yet know how many registrants have taken their own lives. The GDC had promised to publish this data in the first half of 2023, and while it will make for very difficult reading for us all, it will demonstrate transparency and help to understand the extent of this problem.

One dentist experiencing suicidal thoughts due to a GDC investigation is one too many, and both the GDC and the Government must take every possible step to address this issue.

Dental Protection: Urgent reform urged as dental professionals under investigation report suicidal thoughts and quitting dentistry

Dental Protection has called for radical reform to how the General Dental Council (GDC) investigates dental professionals, as new research reveals significant numbers are experiencing suicidal thoughts or quitting dentistry as a result of their investigation.

In a Dental Protection survey of 125 dental professionals who have been investigated by the dental regulator in the last five years, 82% said the investigation had a detrimental impact on their mental health and 96% said it caused stress and anxiety. 14% quit dentistry due to the investigation, and a further 38% considered leaving. Over a quarter (28%) said they experienced suicidal thoughts during the investigation.

In the survey, 82% of respondents said the length of the investigation impacted their mental health most, with some lasting several years. 74% said the tone of communications from the GDC affected them most, with one respondent describing it as ‘cold and harsh’.

Dental Protection, which supports dental professionals with regulatory investigations, called on both the GDC and the Government to take urgent steps to reduce the number of dental professionals needlessly dragged through this process, and resolve cases more quickly.

Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “Dental Protection supports dental professionals from the moment a GDC complaint is received, to its conclusion at a hearing. We see how a GDC investigation takes its toll on the mental health of those involved day in day out, yet these survey results are still shocking and make for difficult reading.

“One dental professional quitting dentistry, or worse, experiencing suicidal thoughts due to a GDC investigation is one too many and this should act as a wake-up call for both the GDC and the Government.

“Members told us the length of their GDC investigation had the most impact on their mental health. The Professional Standards Authority, in its 2021/2022 review of the regulator, said the GDC is taking too long to progress fitness to practise cases and that the number of open older cases has increased. It described the delays as ‘serious and ongoing’.

“GDC reform would give the regulator discretion to not take forward investigations where allegations clearly do not require action, to focus on the most serious allegations and process them more quickly, and the Government must progress this with more urgency. But the GDC can and should make more progress in the meantime – it must deliver on its 2021 commitment to tackle the delays to cases itself, through alternative ways of managing the caseload and increasing the size of its team.

“Having your fitness to practise called into question can be devastating, and there is no reason why the GDC cannot communicate with dentists with more compassion. For example, it should acknowledge the impact the investigation may have on mental wellbeing in its letters, and ensure its correspondence is accessible across all devices. It should also consider introducing an independent 24/7 wellbeing support service.

“Finally, we would urge the GDC to keep its promise to publish data on registrants who have died by suicide during a GDC investigation as soon as possible. This will demonstrate transparency and be the first real step in understanding the extent of this problem.”

Dental Protection and 32Co announce partnership transforming how dentists provide clear aligners

Leading dental indemnifier Dental Protection has partnered with 32Co, the world’s first fully integrated clear aligner system that combinines training, manufacturing choice and 1:1 orthodontic mentorship into dentists’ clear aligner workflow. This is the first partnership between a clear aligner company and a dental indemnifier, and exists to both reduce risk for dentists, and improve patient outcomes.

32Co saw the challenges dentists were facing in the clear aligner market; ineffective clinical training, technician-driven treatment plans resulting in multiple refinements, and escalating prices. Recent studies found the average clear aligner case requires twice the number of aligners than initially anticipated, often meaning double the expected treatment time – causing frustration for patients and clinicians.

32Co’s clinically rigorous approach of integrating education and mentorship directly into the workflow results in less than half of their clear aligner cases needing refinements and more reliable clinical outcomes for patients.

Recent studies found the average clear aligner case requires twice the number of aligners than initially anticipated, often meaning double the expected treatment time – causing frustration for patients and clinicians. 32Co’s clinically rigorous approach of integrating education and mentorship directly into the workflow results in less than half of their clear aligner cases needing refinements and more reliable clinical outcomes for patients.

As the first partnership benefit, Dental Protection members will gain priority access to 32Co’s flagship training. The Clear Aligner Stretch Course improves the clinical confidence and workflow of existing providers in a CPD-accredited, comprehensive 4-week certification to get better clinical outcomes. For practice owners looking to train new providers, the equally rigorous Clear Aligner Starter Course gets associates treating patients safely in under 6-weeks. 32Co has trained over 500 dentists to provide clear aligner treatment confidently and safely with expert guidance. With a significant waitlist for their training, Dental Protection members will now be first in line for each newly released course date. Members can also access the 32Co Platform, which makes it possible to work directly with a specialist orthodontist on every case.

Dr Sonia Szamocki, founder of 32Co, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Dental Protection, the world’s leading dental indemnifier. We share a common vision of empowering dentists to provide safe and effective clear aligner therapy, while reducing risk and enhancing patient satisfaction. We believe that clear aligner orthodontics is not just a plastic device, but a service that requires proper training and support. That’s why we created 32Co, a platform that provides everything dentists need to succeed with clear aligners.”

Professor Ama Johal, Clinical Education Lead at 32Co, said: “Dentists told us how disappointed they were with the one-day courses they were offered by traditional aligner systems. Our educational philosophy is that clear aligner training should be personalised, practical, continuously evolving and free. We were determined to build an educational experience unlike any other using the latest in learning design principles and the 32Co technology. It appears we’re succeeding, with 32Co learners reporting a 92% increase in confidence on average.”

Raj Rattan MBE, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “We are delighted to partner with 32Co, a company that is revolutionising the dental industry. We recognise that clear aligners are becoming increasingly popular among patients and dentists alike, but they also pose significant challenges and risks if not done properly. That’s why we support 32Co’s innovative model of integrating personalised training and 1:1 orthodontic mentorship into the clear aligner case workflow. This not only improves clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction but reduces personal risk and the likelihood of complaints and claims.”

Kevin du Plessis, a 32Co Stretch Course graduate now working as a 32Co Provider, said: “I thought it was too good to be true, but I have already recommended their training to so many other dentists. It’s targeted, tailored, comprehensive and delivered professionally to a group of online delegates in a way I never thought possible.”

From May 2023 Dental Protection is partnering with 32Co to give its members priority access to their Clear Aligner Stretch or Starter Course with more benefits coming later this year. Dental Protection members can apply by visiting http://www.32co.com/dentalprotection/priorityaccess.

Refinement statistic: Science Direct

Dental Protection: More specific timetable needed for GDC reform

Dental Protection has raised concerns about the lack of progress with reform to the GDC’s legislation and has called on the Government to commit to a specific timetable for improving dental regulation.

It also said the Government needs to amend its current proposals for reform in order to safeguard those going through an investigation, especially those without legal representation and those with health concerns.

The comments were made by the Medical Protection Society – of which Dental Protection is part – in response to a DHSC consultation on the legislation to regulate Physician Associates and Anaesthesia Associates. This legislation has broader implications as it is intended to form a blueprint for reforming how other health professions are regulated – eventually including dentists and dental care professionals.

One of the proposals is to introduce so-called ‘accepted outcomes’, where a healthcare professional could avoid having to go through a hearing if they agree with both the investigations’ findings and the proposed sanction.

The defence organisation has raised concerns about the prospect of a regulator being able to impose a sanction – including erasure – in cases where the registrant does not respond within the time period prescribed. It argued that this should not happen as the allegations have not been proved and that in such circumstances the case should instead proceed to a hearing.

It also argued that regulators should be able to continue using a process that is more sensitive to the position of healthcare professionals where there are concerns about their health.  Under the proposals, such cases would have to be pursued under the category of “inability to provide care to a sufficient standard” as opposed to “health” as is currently the case. It is feared this approach could add further anxiety and exacerbate any existing health problem.

Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “Dental Protection has long argued for reform to the legislative framework that underpins the GDC. The Dentists Act is now nearly 40 years old. It is outdated and reform is seriously overdue. The GDC should be given more flexibility to streamline its processes, improve efficiency, reduce the number of investigations into less serious allegations and to ensure that investigations conclude more quickly.

“It is concerning that the Government has said it will in the first instance focus on reforms to the GMC, NMC and HCPC, with no commitment made to when dental professionals might finally be able to benefit from reform to their regulator.

“While we have concerns about some of the proposals made, these should be possible to address with small changes and this will surely be possible in the time it takes for legislation to finally be brought forward.

“We will continue to push the Government to publish a specific timetable for GDC reform as soon as possible.”

Dental Protection comments on GDC v Williams “top up fees” judgment

In the case of GDC v. Williams, the Court of Appeal handed down judgment and held that supplemental fees (described as top-up fees) in addition to the NHS charge were permitted under the NHS Regulations – in this particular case for a more aesthetically pleasing ceramic crown.

Commenting on the case, Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection, said: “This judicial precedent has many implications. Dental professionals work in a complex system and there are many interdependencies.  This complexity is compounded by what the Court noted as ‘unclear Regulations’ which were ‘not at all straightforward.

“There will inevitably be unforeseen and unintended consequences of any policy change, not to mention that the introduction of a top-up fee would in effect create a new hybrid category of care and raises questions about how, for example, the replacement or repair (guarantee) Clause is applied.

“The GDS contract was not drafted with this in mind, and a redrafting of the Regulations is perhaps now inevitable to provide the much-needed clarity. Optimists may argue that this development presents a wider opportunity – a catalyst to drive system reform.

“Pending further clarification, we advocate the precautionary principle and advise members to refrain from offering patients top-up options or accepting top-up fees from patients.

“It is in the interests of the profession and patients to ensure that any changes to the regulations are consistent with the judgment. We are in discussions with stakeholders to represent our members’ interests. We look forward to receiving further guidance and will be keeping members updated as the implications for them become clearer.”

GDC Scope of Practice guidance should clarify boundaries in registrant roles, says Dental Protection

Dental Protection has urged the General Dental Council (GDC) to provide further clarity on the boundaries for each registrant type and an assessment of complex skills in the proposed revised Scope of Practice guidance.

In its consultation response, Dental Protection broadly welcomes the guidance but notes that refinement would clarify and ensure that all registrants fully understand the boundaries of each role.

Scope of Practice is a key guide in the regulation of dentistry, referenced by indemnity providers to understand and consider the scope for each registrant group. Any lack of clarity could lead to misinterpretation and role ambiguity, and potentially impact on indemnity.

Yvonne Shaw, Deputy Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “On the whole, we welcome the proposed revised Scope of Practice guidance as it will allow Dental Care Professionals to embrace the benefits of a skill-mix approach in the future delivery of dental care and encourage personal development.

“This version is clearer and less prescriptive than the previous Scope of Practice document. However, in intending to be less prescriptive there is the potential that boundaries might be misunderstood.

“As an example, we have asked the GDC to consider the specific reference to interproximal reduction and this procedure being excluded in the Orthodontic Therapist role boundary. In the absence of specific reference to this elective procedure for other registrant groups, who can undertake this procedure remains unclear. Once the remit and boundaries of each member of the dental team are clear, we would welcome patient information leaflets that list FAQs on each role, which patients may find helpful.

“The GDC should also describe how it would assess ‘complexity’ in the event of a complaint. The guidance acknowledges that ‘more complex skills may require training delivered by an accredited educational provider’, but it does not specify which are those complex skills.”

The GDC consultation into the Scope of Practice closes on 11 May. Read Dental Protection’s full response here.

MPS Foundation funds major study into dental patients’ anxiety triggers

The MPS Foundation is funding research which aims to develop interventions for patients who suffer from extreme anxiety when visiting the dentist.

The AngST project will see experts in dentistry and filmmaking at the University of Plymouth working in tandem to assess and then develop ways to manage dental anxiety. It will also offer a novel approach to detecting subtle signs or “tells” of anxiety in the dental clinic by building a partnership between patients, clinicians, filmmakers, ethnographers, researchers, and the public.

The project is one of ten awarded funding, out of over 150 expressions of interest received, in the first research grant programme of the MPS Foundation. Medical Protection Society (MPS) – of which Dental Protection is part – launched the MPS Foundation last year with the aim to create sustainable global change through ambitious research focussed on patient safety and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and teams.

The task builds on a decade of work by researchers from the University’s Transtechnology Research Group and colleagues at the South Devon and Torbay NHS Hospital Trust. It will see a pilot study conducted using video recordings of dental treatment, which will be used to analyse patients’ emotional experiences during dental visits.

A methodology for filming in the dental clinic will be refined and documented and used to produce a toolkit for reflexive training of dental clinicians that can be used beyond dental practice. This will enable the researchers to design and pilot a training model that will enhance the ability of junior dentists, clinical staff, and patients themselves to be sensitive to the emergence of anxiety in the dental clinic.

The ultimate aim of the project will be to encourage all the parties to respond in a way that helps to reduce anxiety, and thereby improves the provision and take-up of dental care and the wellbeing of dentists.

Dr Graham Stokes, dentist and MPS Foundation Chair, said: “Dentists face the challenging task of responding to their patients’ anxieties while being under serious pressure themselves. In the case of newly qualified dentists, they are possibly also anxious about ensuring they provide their patients with a high level of care. Current ways to help anxiety are only moderately effective, and few have been developed together with patients or clinicians.

“Until now, funding for critical research like this has been limited, but is now taking place through the MPS Foundation. As a global not-for-profit research initiative, we aim to take non-clinical research in a new direction and transform the future of patient safety.”

Professor Mona Nasser, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology and Oral Health Research at the University of Plymouth, is leading the AngST project. She said: “With the dental profession under more pressure than ever, this project could not be more timely. For many people, just the thought of going to the dentist evokes all manner of anxieties that they choose to avoid.

“That can lead to dental issues going unmanaged, and ultimately results in a number of wider health complications. It is therefore essential for us to find better ways of managing people’s anxieties, and give clinicians and patients themselves the tools to manage them.”

The second MPS Foundation grant application window is open. Calls for expressions of interest close on 5 May 2023. Healthcare professionals can register their interest by visiting www.thempsfoundation.org and entering their details via the online grant portal.

Global patient safety and wellbeing research initiative invites grant applications

The MPS Foundation – a global not-for-profit research initiative that aims to shape the future of patient safety – has launched its second grant programme.

Medical Protection Society (MPS) – of which Dental Protection is part – launched The MPS Foundation last year and its first research grant programme received over 150 expressions of interest. 10 applicants were successful in securing funding for their research. This includes a UK dental research project involving work with patients and dental professionals to reveal signs and triggers of stress and anxiety in the clinic.

The Foundation is now inviting new research grant applications from both MPS members and non-members. It will invest in research and analysis with a key focus on patient safety and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and teams, both medical and dental, and applications will again be considered from the jurisdictions where MPS has members. This includes the UK, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Research projects supported by The MPS Foundation need to be academically robust and evidence-based. Available funding will range from £5,000 to £200,000, or equivalent in local currency, depending on the scale, focus and duration of the proposal.

The funding focusses on five main areas:

    • the impact of human factors on patient safety, outcomes and risk
    • the impact of processes and delivery models on patient safety, outcomes and risk
    • the personal and professional wellbeing and development of clinicians
    • the impact of digital integration and technology on patient safety, outcomes and risk.
    • the evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching and learning innovations and the impact upon patient care, safety, outcomes and risk.

Dr Graham Stokes, dentist and MPS Foundation Chair, said: “Patient safety and the wellbeing of dental professionals and teams are more vital today than ever. Until now, funding for research into both has been limited, but this is all set to change with access to research funding through The MPS Foundation. As a global not-for-profit research initiative, we aim to take non-clinical research in a new direction and transform the future of patient safety.

“Our aim is simple: to create sustainable global change through ambitious research that can be used to develop a knowledge base that improves patient safety, enhances the wellbeing of healthcare teams and reduces risks.

“I am delighted with the progress The MPS Foundation has made and to launch the second grant programme. Our first grant programme saw expressions of interest from all MPS jurisdictions with 10 of those research projects awarded funding. These projects are exciting, diverse and carry great potential.

“All research projects must be academically robust and evidence based. While funding will be available up to £200,000, smaller grants from £5,000 will also be available and I would strongly encourage healthcare professionals to consider applying for support whatever the scale of their proposal.”

Healthcare professionals can register their interest by visiting www.thempsfoundation.org and entering their details via the online grant portal. Calls for expressions of interest close on 5 May 2023.

The Foundation is part of MPS – the world’s leading protection organisation – which currently supports more than 300,000 doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals, and has almost 130 years of global healthcare experience and expertise.

General Dental Council proposes revised guidance on indemnity and insurance

The General Dental Council (GDC) is consulting on plans to improve its guidance on indemnity and insurance, to support dental professionals in meeting their obligations to patients. 

Dental professionals are required by law to have appropriate indemnity or insurance in place before they practise. This is to ensure that, in the rare instances that any patient suffers harm during the course of treatment, they can seek appropriate compensation.   

Whilst indemnity or insurance is there to help patients seek compensation on the rare occasions things go wrong, it also protects dental professionals from being personally liable for financial consequences. 

Dental professionals must engage and cooperate with their provider should a patient makea claim and ensure that their actions, or inaction, do not invalidate their indemnity or insurance cover.  

The GDC is proposing changes to its guidance on indemnity and insurance to ensure it is up-to-date and better supports dental professionals to understand and meet their legal and regulatory obligations, in the interest of patients and maintaining public confidence in the profession.  

The proposed changes will explain the different types of cover available and highlight the additional benefits that dental professionals should consider when arranging cover, such as advice and support for their wellbeing during a claim.  

The GDC invites interested and affected parties to share their thoughts and views on the proposed updates by 20 June when the consultation closes.   

Stefan Czerniawski, GDC Executive Director, Strategy, said: “Our priority is that patients are kept safe in the first place and that compensation therefore is unnecessary. However, in those rare and regrettable instances where something has gone wrong with treatment, it is essential that patients get the compensation they are entitled to. It’s important that dental professionals understand their responsibilities and can make the appropriate decision about indemnity or insurance and their actions, so that patients are not adversely affected. This revised guidance aims to do just that.”

GDC draft indemnity guidance a positive step forward, says Dental Protection

Dental Protection has welcomed the publication of updated guidance from the GDC on professional indemnity which aims to provide dental professionals with a more comprehensive understanding of what questions to ask when arranging protection.

The GDC consultation launched today proposes a checklist of questions that dental professionals should run through when choosing their protection, including whether there are financial limits, whether the product is occurrence-based or claims-made, and whether it includes assistance with disciplinary and GDC proceedings as well as wellbeing support.

Most dental professionals are members of a dental defence organisation such as Dental Protection – a mutual not-for-profit organisation that uses its discretion to positively look for ways to assist when members need support.

Dental Protection members have protection that does not include financial caps, so they do not need to worry about the prospect of having to cover any costs that exceed a limit. Their protection is occurrence-based which protects them long into the future without the need to purchase run-off or ‘tail’ cover when they end their policy, retire, or leave dentistry. It also includes the right to request assistance with GDC investigations and manage other risks, as well as wellbeing support.

The alternative is to take out an insurance contract with an insurance provider, which specifies what assistance the insurer will and will not provide, and to what level. Different products will specify different levels of protection.

Dr Raj Rattan, Dental Director at Dental Protection said: “The differences between the indemnity and insurance options available are complex and this draft guidance is a positive step forward in helping dental professionals understand the indemnity requirements, the options available, and make an informed decision on protection that is right for them. A dental professional’s career is too important to risk by not having the right level of protection in place.

“We welcome the plan to provide more detail on what the different options do and do not include, for example, support with a fitness to practise investigation. Dental Protection has previously called on the GDC to stress the importance of having support in place for GDC investigations, in addition to claims, as sadly many dental professionals appear before a GDC hearing without legal representation and are more likely to face a harsher sanction.”