Clear aligners must not compromise dental patient safety

Jeremy Booth, Dental Tribune International

Thu. 20 May 2021

save

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has welcomed innovation in dentistry, including where treatment and consultations occur remotely, but has emphasised the responsibility of dental teams to provide safe patient-centred care. All dental professionals in all treatment settings must be registered with the GDC and abide by its standards of care, the regulator stressed.

In its latest statement on direct-to-consumer orthodontics, the GDC pointed out that remote treatment can be beneficial to patients as it improves the accessibility and affordability of care. These and other benefits have resulted in changing expectations on the part of patients and an increase in demand for remote treatment, the GDC said. It warned, however, that innovation and shifting trends in the provision of orthodontic care must not compromise patient safety and public confidence in dental services.

“The GDC is aware of an increasing number of organisations offering services remotely, including direct-to-consumer orthodontics using clear aligners. These services fall within the legal definition of dentistry so can only be performed by dentists and dental care professionals who are registered with the GDC,” the regulator’s statement read. It emphasised that all dental professionals must adhere to the GDC framework document, Standards for the Dental Team, and that practising dentistry without being registered with the GDC could result in prosecution for illegal practice.

“[Clinical] judgements about the suitability of a proposed course of orthodontic treatment must be based on a full assessment of the patient’s oral health”

“The Standards for the Dental Team apply to all dental professionals in all treatment settings, including interactions provided on a remote platform,” the GDC said.

Although the regulator believes that a number of interactions between patients and dental professionals can be provided safely via remote platforms, it commented that a physical clinical assessment is necessary for other aspects of patient care.

“In line with current authoritative clinical guidance, and orthodontic training, clinical judgements about the suitability of a proposed course of orthodontic treatment must be based on a full assessment of the patient’s oral health. At present, there is no effective substitute for a physical, clinical examination as the foundation for that assessment,” the statement read.

The GDC stressed that the treating dentist is responsible for direct communication with patients to discuss treatment options, answer questions about patient needs and expectations, and obtain valid consent. Patients must know the full name of the treating dentist and have the option of contacting him or her directly.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

CQC mandates registration for direct-to-consumer orthodontics providers

LONDON, UK: As the independent regulator of health and social care in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recognised the benefits that new ...

Dental regulation in UK must overcome climate of fear, GDC exec says

MANCHESTER, UK: The deteriorating relationship between dentistry and its regulatory body has to be addressed, Executive Director of Strategy at the General ...

GDC seeks new panel members to improve patient protection

LONDON – Last week, the General Dental Council (GDC), the regulatory body for dental professionals in the UK, announced that it will be recruiting up ...

GDC announces changes to fitness to practise process, Lays out road map

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) has announced legislative change that will see the introduction of case examiners to streamline its fitness to ...

GDC says more details on complaints system changes available soon

LONDON, UK: The General Dental Council (GDC) yesterday announced it will publish details by the end of January on how it wants to change the current ...

UK orthodontic community set to gather at 2025 British Orthodontic Conference

NEWPORT, Wales: Organised by the British Orthodontic Society, the 2025 British Orthodontic Conference (BOC) promises to bring together the entire UK ...

Dentists must prepare to treat growing numbers of elderly patients with “complex medical histories”

The evolving socio-demographics of patients means dentists must be better equipped to identify oral signs of systemic diseases and treat elderly patients ...

Interview: "Any non-compliant or counterfeit medical device is a risk to public safety"

In response to an increase in counterfeit and unapproved dental products seized in the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ...

Not Just All Mouth: The Dentistry Show 2015

Not only a dental event that the whole team will enjoy but also the perfect opportunity to gain valuable education and experience, The Dentistry Show, ...

Five ways in which Perio plus regenerate protects your patients

KRIENS, Switzerland: A proper mouthrinse at the proper time can go a long way towards protecting your patient’s oral and overall health. Perio plus ...

Education

On-demand
webinar