If you use the titles dental nurse, dental surgery assistant, dental technician or dental technologist without being registered with the GDC, you risk criminal prosecution, the Council has warned.

Merely changing your title will not protect you if you continue working in these capacities, it adds. A registered dentist or dental technician who employs someone to work as a dental nurse or dental technician has a duty to ensure that person is registered or in training. If they do not do this they risk losing their own registration.

‘The time to register under transitional arrangements that recognised experience is over,’ said GDC director of operations Edward Bannatyne. ‘To be a dental nurse or dental technician, you must register or be in training. It's as simple as that.‘