Choosing a Dentist
How do I check a dentist is registered in the UK?
By The Local Dentist Editorial · Updated 13 July 2026
Checking the person: the GDC register
The General Dental Council registers around 120,000 dental professionals across the UK — dentists, dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, orthodontic therapists, technicians, and clinical dental technicians. Practising dentistry without registration is a criminal offence, so the register is the single authoritative check that the person treating you is legally allowed to. Go to gdc-uk.org and use 'Search the register': you can search by name or registration number and see the professional's title and registration status. On The Local Dentist, we show the principal dentist's GDC number on practice profiles where it is on file, with a link so you can verify it on the register yourself rather than take our word for it.
Checking the practice: CQC and the national regulators
The person and the premises are regulated separately. In England, dental practices must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which inspects them against fundamental standards of safety and cleanliness. One thing to know: CQC does not give dental practices ratings — unlike GPs and hospitals, there is no Outstanding/Good scale for dentists, only registration and inspection outcomes. So a practice without a CQC rating is normal, not a red flag. In Wales, practices are regulated by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales; in Scotland, through NHS boards and combined practice inspections; in Northern Ireland, by the RQIA. Where we hold a practice's CQC location ID, it appears on the profile with a link to cqc.org.uk.
When the check matters most
Routine high-street dentistry rarely involves unregistered practitioners — the check matters most at the edges. Teeth whitening is legally dentistry, and only GDC registrants may perform it: a salon or mobile 'whitening technician' will not be on the register, and that is your answer. At-home clear aligner services must involve a GDC registrant prescribing the treatment — ask who that is and look them up. The same goes for anyone offering cut-price cosmetic dental work outside a practice setting. If someone claims a different 'certification' instead of GDC registration, that is a warning sign, not reassurance. When in doubt, two minutes on gdc-uk.org settles it.
What registration does and doesn't tell you
Registration is a floor, not a recommendation. It confirms the professional is qualified, insured against the basics of practice, and accountable to a regulator that can strike them off — it does not tell you whether they are experienced in the specific treatment you want, good with anxious patients, or fairly priced. For that, look at how long the clinician has been registered, whether they hold relevant further qualifications, what the practice's reviews say, and how transparent the pricing is. That comparison layer is what The Local Dentist adds on top of the register checks: registration is the baseline every listed practice should meet, and services, prices, and reviews help you choose between legitimate options.
People Also Ask
Is the GDC register free to search?
Yes. Searching the register at gdc-uk.org is free and requires no account. You can search by name or GDC registration number.
My practice has no CQC rating — should I worry?
No. CQC registers and inspects dental practices in England but does not rate them, so no dental practice has a star-style rating. Check that the practice is registered and its inspection found standards met.
Are dental nurses and hygienists on the same register as dentists?
Yes. The GDC register covers all seven dental professional groups, including nurses, hygienists, therapists, and technicians. Everyone treating you in a dental practice should be on it.
What do I do if someone is practising dentistry unregistered?
Report it to the GDC, which investigates illegal practice — including illegal tooth whitening. Do not continue treatment with an unregistered practitioner.
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This article is general information for UK patients, not clinical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on nhs.uk or speak to a dentist before acting. For severe facial swelling affecting breathing/swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding, or trauma call 999 / go to A&E; otherwise NHS 111 for urgent dental access. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from ourmethodology.