Concerns about implant dentistry standards have led the General Dental Council to remind all dentists that they must only undertake procedures in which they are properly trained and competent.

Dentists currently performing implant dentistry and those considering branching into the area are being urged by the GDC to read guidelines published by the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), 'Training standards in implant dentistry'. The guidelines make clear the minimum training the GDC would expect dentists to have successfully completed before undertaking implants. This would normally involve a postgraduate training course in implant dentistry and an assessment of competence. Training can come from a variety of sources including university, Royal College or hospital-based programmes, as well as from courses run by commercial groups or individuals.

In a new policy statement the GDC has confirmed that it will refer to these guidelines when assessing complaints against dentists who have allegedly practised implant dentistry beyond their competence.

Hew Mathewson, GDC President, said, 'We have concerns that some dentists have been carrying out this very invasive procedure without having completed adequate training and assessment. It is essential for patient safety that dentists have had sound postgraduate training before doing it. Dentists who are already practising implant dentistry, as well as those thinking about getting into it, need to read the Royal College guidelines and understand the level of training we expect them to have achieved.' To read 'Training standards in implant dentistry' and the GDC's policy statement, visit http://www.gdc-uk.org.

In further news, the GDC has entered a new specialist training partnership with the Joint Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry (JCSTD). The GDC's 13 Specialist Lists identify those dentists who have completed specialist training and are entitled to use the title 'specialist'.