Dr Sonal

Dec 17, 20239 min

The 9 GDC Standards & Principles - The Ultimate Guide For Dentistry Interviews

Introduction

The General Dental Council (GDC) principles represent the core of dental professionalism in the UK. The 9 GDC standards are integral to maintaining high standards of patient care and ethical practice.

Understanding the 9 General Dental Council (GDC) Principles is crucial for aspiring dental students, nursing students and dental hygienists, especially when preparing for dental school interviews.

These principles are not just a set of guidelines; they are the foundation of ethical and professional practice in UK dentistry.

As a dentist in the UK, I've seen how these principles shape our profession, ensuring that patient care and ethical standards remain at the forefront.

For students, mastering these principles is essential. They are not only key interview topics but also underpin the practice of dentistry. Grasping their importance, implications, and applications will set you apart in interviews and your future dental career.

This is a fundamental dentistry hot topic that you need to know about for your dentistry interviews for UK dental schools. All of these dental hot topics are ones that you can learn from during your dentistry work experience and can be mentioned in your personal statement.

This guide aims to demystify the 9 GDC standards, their implications, and their significance for future dental students, helping them navigate this important topic effectively to help smash your dentistry interviews and can form some part of your preparation when looking through dentistry interview questions.

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The 9 GDC Standards

Here are the 9 GDC Principles, these are important for you to know before your dentistry interview.

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

We will now go through each of these GDC Standards for the dental team in more detail.

GDC Principle 1: Patient Interests First

Putting patients' interests first is fundamental in dentistry. This principle ensures that all dental care decisions prioritise the welfare and preferences of the patient above all else. It encompasses providing the best possible care and advice, considering patients' needs and values.

In interviews, demonstrating an understanding of this principle involves discussing scenarios where patient interests conflict with other factors, and how to navigate these situations ethically.

For example, recommending a dental treatment such as composite fillings (rather than dental amalgams) based on patient needs rather than convenience or cost to you as a dentist.

GDC Principle 2: Effective Communication

Effective communication is crucial in dental practice for ensuring patient understanding and consent.

It involves clear, honest, and open interactions, adapting to the patient's needs and comprehension levels.

For dental interviews, discussing effective communication might include exploring how to explain complex treatments to patients in an understandable way, such as simplifying the explanation of a root canal procedure while ensuring patient comprehension and keeping it jargon-free.

In addition, it may involve both verbal and non-verbal methods of communication such as the use of visual aids, diagrams and gestures. In dentistry, nervous and anxious patients are common.

Being able to communicate with empathy to reassure patients is an important situation to practice before your dental interviews.

These are some of the areas you may be judged upon during MMI roleplays or when showing empathy in communication stations at your dental interview.

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GDC Principle 3: Valid Consent

Obtaining valid consent is a key ethical requirement. It involves ensuring that patients are fully informed about their treatment options and understand the implications of their choices. This is crucial before all procedures and really before even the dental examination.

In a dental interview context, candidates might be asked to describe how they would ensure informed consent in practice, like discussing the risks and benefits of a procedure with a patient and ensuring they understand before proceeding. Other issues that may be discussed in your interview are medical consent from those who do not have the capacity and children under the age of 18.

Remember the principle of Gillick Competence which also applies to dentistry in the UK.

GDC Principle 4: Maintain and Protect Patients’ Information

Protecting patient information is a critical aspect of dental ethics. This principle involves maintaining confidentiality and handling personal data securely.

In interviews, this could be exemplified by discussing how to handle a situation where a patient's family member requests information about their treatment, emphasising the importance of patient confidentiality.

It also applies during your time at dental school or in a career in dentistry when discussing patients outside of work.

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GDC Principle 5: Have a clear and effective complaints procedure

Effective complaint handling is essential for patient trust and professional integrity. It involves addressing concerns promptly and empathetically.

In an interview, one might discuss how to manage a situation where a patient is dissatisfied with their treatment, highlighting the importance of addressing complaints constructively and professionally.

During your interview, you may also have to resolve a dispute in a role-play setting - where you must listen, acknowledge and apologise if needed.

GDC Principle 6: Work with colleagues in a way that serves the interests of patients

Collaboration with colleagues in dentistry ensures comprehensive patient care. This can be with other dental colleagues, dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental technicians, the reception and admin staff, and specialist colleagues in secondary care.

This principle involves working effectively within a team and respecting the contributions of others.

For interview purposes, candidates could discuss how interdisciplinary collaboration enhances patient outcomes, such as coordinating care with a periodontist for a patient with gum disease.

This may be tested by asking you about teamwork-based example questions, e.g. ‘tell us about a time when you showed good teamwork skills’.

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GDC Principle 7: Maintain, develop and work within your professional knowledge and skills

Maintaining professional knowledge and skills is vital for effective dental practice. This includes staying updated with the latest research and techniques.

This is usually done through continual professional development (CPD) learning, where dentists are expected to conduct at least 100 hours of learning (outside their normal practice) over a five-year period with at least 10 hours of CPD within 2 of those 5 years.

The following CPD topics are highly recommended for dentists:

Medical emergencies: we recommend at least 10 hours in each CPD cycle, and at least two hours of this type of activity every year.
Disinfection and decontamination: we recommend at least five hours in each cycle.
Radiography and radiation protection: if you undertake radiography, we recommend at least five hours in each cycle.

In interviews, candidates might discuss the importance of continuous learning and how they plan to keep their skills and knowledge current, such as attending professional development courses.

Perhaps this could also be tested by asking you how you deal with stress or time management.

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GDC Principle 8: Raising Concerns

Raising concerns about patient safety or unethical practices is a professional responsibility.

It involves speaking up when patient care is compromised. Sometimes this can be called whistleblowing - though this is usually reserved for when more serious concerns are raised.

During interviews, candidates could be asked to explain how they would handle a situation where they notice a colleague not following hygiene measures, emphasising the importance of patient safety and ethical responsibility.

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GDC Principle 9: Professional Behaviour

Maintaining professional behaviour is crucial in dentistry. This includes acting with integrity and upholding the profession's reputation. It is about being professional, courteous and respectful to patients and the wider team.

In a dental interview setting, discussing professional behaviour might involve describing how to handle personal stress without letting it affect patient care, thus maintaining professionalism at all times.

It might also be how one remains professional when faced with a difficult situation or an angry patient.

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Practical Applications of GDC Standards in Daily Practice

Integrating GDC standards into daily dental practice is crucial for ethical and the best patient care. Creating a patient-centred environment involves making decisions that prioritise patient welfare.

For instance, when presenting treatment options to a patient, it is vital to consider the patient's financial situation and health needs, rather than opting for the most profitable procedure for you as a dentist.

Effective communication is crucial in situations in dentistry explaining complex procedures to ensure patient understanding and consent and for example, using simple terms to describe the implications of a root canal treatment to a patient and consenting them.

Additionally, maintaining patient confidentiality is paramount, especially when handling sensitive patient data in a digitalised practice setting. This could involve implementing robust data security measures to protect patient records.

These examples underscore the importance of embedding GDC principles in everyday dental activities, emphasising professionalism and high-quality care.

GDC Standards Model Interview Question & Answer

How would you apply the GDC principle of patient interests first in a scenario where a patient is hesitant about a necessary dental procedure due to anxiety?

Applying the GDC's principle of prioritising patient interests, especially in a situation where a patient is anxious about a necessary procedure, requires a delicate balance of empathy, information, and ethical judgment.

I would start by acknowledging the patient's anxiety and creating a safe space to express their concerns. Understanding the root of their hesitation is key. Then, I would provide clear, empathetic explanations about the procedure, its benefits, and risks, ensuring they have all the information to make an informed decision.

If possible, I'd offer alternatives or modifications to the procedure to alleviate their fears. Importantly, I'd reassure them of the safety measures and pain management techniques in place. Throughout this process, maintaining open communication is crucial.

It's about building trust and respecting their autonomy. If they still choose to decline the procedure, I would respect their decision, while advising them on the potential consequences and arranging for a follow-up. This approach not only aligns with the GDC's ethical framework but also fosters a trusting dentist-patient relationship.

Example GDC Standards Dentistry Interview Questions

For students preparing for dental school interviews, understanding the dental amalgam phase-out is key. Here are some example questions that might come up, reflecting the depth and breadth of this topic:

What are the 9 GDC Principles?
Pick one of the GDC standards and explain what you know about it.
What is the relevance of the GDC principles in dentistry?
What are the GDC standards?
How would you apply the GDC principle of 'Patient Interests First' in a situation where treatment options vary in cost and complexity?
Can you describe a scenario where effective communication in dentistry is crucial for patient understanding?
How do you ensure valid consent is obtained for dental treatments, especially in complex cases?
Discuss the importance of patient information protection in a digitalized dental practice.
How would you handle a situation where a patient files a complaint about a treatment outcome?
Describe a time when collaboration with colleagues led to improved patient care.
In your view, how important is continuous professional development in maintaining high dental care standards?
Give an example of a situation where raising concerns about a colleague's practice was necessary for patient safety.
How do you interpret professional behaviour in the context of a dental practice?
Discuss an ethical dilemma you might face in dentistry and how you would resolve it.
Explain how you would balance patient preferences with clinical judgement in treatment planning.
How would you approach a situation where a patient refuses a necessary dental treatment?
What strategies would you employ to keep up with the latest advancements in dental care?
How important is teamwork in a dental setting, and how would you contribute to it?
Can you discuss the role of ethics in decision-making for dental treatments?
How would you manage a situation involving a language barrier with a patient?
What measures would you take to ensure ethical advertising of dental services?
How would you address a scenario where a patient's expectations are not medically advisable?
In what ways can dentists contribute to public health initiatives?
How would you integrate patient feedback into improving your dental practice?

Ensure that you read about dental amalgams to help answer more questions from your dentistry interview in the UK.

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FAQs on The GDC Principles & Standards

What are the GDC standards for?

The GDC standards provide a framework for ethical and professional practice in dentistry in the UK. They ensure that dental professionals provide high-quality care and maintain public trust in the dental profession.

What is principle 9 of the GDC standards?

Principle 9 of the GDC standards is "Make sure your personal behaviour maintains patients’ confidence in you and the dental profession”. This involves the way dental professionals act within and outside the dental practice to ensure the patient has trust in them.

What is principle 8 of the GDC standards?

Principle 8, "Raise concerns if patients are at risk", requires dental professionals to speak up if they believe patient safety or care is being compromised.

What is principle 5 of the GDC?

Principle 5 is "Have a clear and effective complaints procedure". It focuses on the importance of addressing patient complaints promptly and professionally.

What are the GDC principles of practice?

The GDC principles of practice include 9 core standards that guide the ethical and professional behaviour of dental professionals in the UK.

What are the principles of dentistry?

The principles of dentistry, as outlined by the GDC, include prioritizing patient care, maintaining professional knowledge, and collaborating with colleagues, among others, to ensure the highest standard of dental practice.

What are the GDC standards for dental professionals?

The GDC standards for dental professionals include principles like putting patients first, effective communication, valid consent, and maintaining patient confidentiality.

How are GDC standards relevant in dental school interviews?

During dental school interviews, understanding GDC standards showcases your knowledge of professional ethics and patient care, essential for a career in dentistry. They can be linked to several different scenarios that can come up at dentistry interviews.