Register check
Check a dentist's GDC number
Every dentist and dental care professional — including dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, technicians, and orthodontic therapists — practising in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council and has a GDC number. You can check a dental professional two ways: search MedicWatch's archive below, then verify the current position on the GDC's own register.
Searches MedicWatch's archive of UK dentists and dental care professionals and published hearing outcomes. Try a surname or a GDC number.
Verify on the official register
MedicWatch is an independent archive. The GDC’s own register is the canonical, up-to-date record.
Search the GDC registerWhat is a GDC number?
A GDC number is a 5- to 6-digit reference the General Dental Council gives to every dentist and dental care professional registered to practise in the UK — including dental nurses, hygienists, therapists, technicians, and orthodontic therapists. It is unique to that person.
You can usually find a dental professional's GDC number on a practice website or official correspondence, or by asking them directly. By law, they must give you their GDC number on request.
How to check the GDC register yourself
- Go to the GDC's online register (link above) and enter the person's name or GDC number. Searching by number is more reliable, because names can repeat.
- Check the registration status line on their entry to see whether they are currently registered to practise.
- Check whether the entry shows any hearing outcomes, such as conditions or a suspension, and read the linked determination for the regulator's own account.
What the different statuses mean
The GDC register shows one of the following statuses for each dentist or dental care professional:
- Registered — the person can currently practise in the UK
- Suspended — a hearing outcome has paused the person's registration for a fixed period
- Conditions — the person can continue working, but only within specific restrictions set by the regulator
- Erased — the person has been removed from the register and cannot practise
Frequently asked questions
What is a GDC number?
A GDC number is a 5- to 6-digit reference the General Dental Council gives to every dentist and dental care professional registered to practise in the UK. It's unique to that person and is used to identify them on the register.
What does it mean if a dental professional has no MedicWatch entry?
MedicWatch indexes publicly published register entries and regulator decisions. No public regulatory determinations found for a practitioner means exactly that — check the GDC register for the current registration position.
Does appearing on MedicWatch mean a dentist did something wrong?
No. The GDC's Dental Professionals Hearings Service decided a range of outcomes across cases, including cases where no further action was taken. Each profile states what the hearing decided, with a link to the source document.