The Oral Health Foundation has welcomed new measures which assess dental professionals’ language skills when they come to work in the UK.

The charity believes the legislation will provide an extra level of protection for patients by ensuring they are able to fully communicate and understand every element of their treatment with their dental team.

These new controls cover all dentists, dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental nurses who register to work in the UK and aim to ensure they are proficient enough in the English language to communicate effectively with patients.

The measures came into force on 1 April 2016 and will be enforced by the General Dental Council (GDC).

Dentists and dental care professionals (DCPs) who apply to return to the GDC register will also have their proficiency in English language considered.

More information can be found at www.gdc-uk.org.