Introduction

The GDC agreed some points regarding entry to the register for dental technicians during the two year 'transitional' registration period. During this time, dental technicians may be registered if they are members of the existing voluntary register of dental technicians or hold a dental technician registrable qualification or meet a new, seven in ten years criterion.

After the two year transitional registration period, dental technicians may only be registered if they hold a dental technician registrable qualification.

The requirements of registration are that only registered dental technicians (RDTs) may sign off work produced in dental laboratories, RDTs will be responsible for supervising unregistered laboratory manufacturing workers, and being responsible for ensuring that they work within the limits of their competence. Also RDTs are under the standard obligation to self-limit the scope of the tasks that they undertake.

With regards to experience, under the transitional arrangements, applicants for registration as a dental technician will need to be competent at managing the manufacture of a range of custom-made dental devices within one of the following treatment modalities; fixed prosthodontics, removable prosthodontics and orthodontics.