The GDC Standards for the Dental Team: the Nine Principles and Where Your Notes Show Them

The nine principles

The GDC's standards site names the principles as follows:

1. Put patients’ interests first
2. Communicate effectively with patients
3. Obtain valid consent
4. Maintain and protect patients’ information
5. Have a clear and effective complaints procedure
6. Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interests
7. Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills
8. Raise concerns if patients are at risk
9. Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession

Where the principles reach the clinical record

Principle 4 carries the record-keeping standards. Standard 4.1 is "You must make and keep contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records". The guidance beneath it includes:

• 4.1.1: "You must make and keep complete and accurate patient records, including an up-to-date medical history, each time that you treat patients." Radiographs, consent forms, photographs, models, laboratory prescriptions and referral letters form part of the record where available.
• 4.1.2: "You should record as much detail as possible about the discussions you have with your patients, including evidence that valid consent has been obtained."
• 4.1.4: records must be "clear, legible, accurate, and can be readily understood by others", and you must "record the name or initials of the treating clinician".
• 4.1.5: amendments must be "clearly marked up and dated".
• 4.1.6: a referral must be accurately recorded in the patient's notes.

Principle 3 covers consent. Standard 3.1.6 says: "You must obtain written consent where treatment involves conscious sedation or general anaesthetic." Our consent guides cover how to record the rest of the consent conversation.

The proposed Framework for Professionalism

The GDC's consultations page lists a consultation on its proposed Framework for Professionalism, which "would replace the current Standards for the Dental Team with a more modern, accessible and flexible approach". It describes "four clear principles, supported by expectations and guidance". The consultation opened on 2 June 2026 and closed at 23.59 on 31 August 2026.

Because standard numbers may change if the framework is adopted, cite the principle name as well as the number in your own policies and audits.

Sources

• GDC: Standards for the Dental Team (effective 30 September 2013) (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 1: Put patients’ interests first (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 2: Communicate effectively with patients (accessed 22 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 3: Obtain valid consent (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 4: Maintain and protect patients’ information (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 5: Have a clear and effective complaints procedure (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 6: Work with colleagues in a way that is in patients’ best interests (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 7: Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 8: Raise concerns if patients are at risk (accessed 18 October 2026)
• GDC Standards for the Dental Team, Principle 9: Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession (accessed 22 October 2026)
• GDC: Consultations and responses (consultation on the proposed Framework for Professionalism) (accessed 22 October 2026)