
Standards & guidance
We set the authoritative standards and guidance for general dental practice, promoting high-quality practice and patient care:
By the profession, for the profession.
Supporting excellence throughout the profession, our evidence-based Standards and Guidance are a respected resource for the whole dental team.
Digital copies are available here for registered users.
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Members & Fellows of the College enjoy enhanced access, including print and download
In our Talking Standards webinar series, free to view live, the experts discuss key areas from our guidance and answer your questions. Scroll down to see what’s coming soon or visit our events page.
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An introduction to research for primary dental care clinicians
An Introduction to Research for Primary Dental Care Clinicians introduces the principles of research methodology, discusses the relevance of research to primary dental care, and provides an overview of the different stages in a research project.
Antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry
Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dentistry gives clear, simple and practical guidance to dentists on when to prescribe antimicrobials, what to prescribe, for how long and at what dosage.
Our printable one-page summary of the guidance, Chairside synopsis for common conditions, which summarises recommendations applicable for adult patients, is available for all dental professionals and practices to download.
The Antimicrobial Prescribing Self-Audit Tool, co-published with the British Dental Association and endorsed by Public Health England, helps dental prescribers to complete a clinical audit of their antimicrobial prescribing and management of dental infections, and to compare audited practice against the guidance.
Further resources are available in the Dental Antimicrobial Stewardship Toolkit, which was developed by the FGDP(UK), the British Dental Association and the Dental Sub-Group of Public Health England’s English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR).
Clinical examination and record-keeping
Clinical Examination and Record-Keeping is a complete reference guide to record-keeping and examination, including history-taking, consent, confidentiality, data protection and more.
Dementia-friendly dentistry
Dementia-Friendly Dentistry enables dental professionals to understand dementia and its implications for dental practice, and adapt their patient management and clinical decisions accordingly.
Guidance notes for dental practitioners on the safe use of X-ray equipment
Sets standards for the safe use of x-ray equipment within dental practice in line with the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 (IRR17) and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IRMER17).
Implications of COVID-19 for the safe management of general dental practice
Our COVID-19 guidance supports dental professionals to take a risk-based, evidence-based approach to providing safe general dental care, and looking after team wellbeing, in the current circumstances.
Mentoring in implant dentistry

Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines describes the nature of mentoring which should be undertaken in order to safely carry out implant dentistry following completion of an appropriate training course, and complements Training Standards in Implant Dentistry.
Selection criteria for dental radiography
Selection Criteria for Dental Radiography is the leading guideline on indications for radiographic investigation, covering treatment planning and monitoring, ionising radiation regulations and best practice.
Standards in dentistry
Standards in Dentistry is a comprehensive collection of standards and guidelines for primary dental care.
Training standards in implant dentistry
Training Standards in Implant Dentistry summarises the training that should be undertaken to carry out implant dentistry safely, and the standards which should be met by training courses. It should be read in conjunction with Mentoring in Implant Dentistry: Good Practice Guidelines.
Latest
College endorses updated guidance on prevention of caries in children
The College has endorsed the third edition of Prevention and Management of Dental Caries in Children, published this week by the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme.
Martin Kelleher to deliver inaugural College Lecture
“‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits?” will challenge the notion of the ‘ideal treatment plan’ and contend that subconscious bias and possible self-interests can lead some supposed experts to confuse their version of a questionable ‘gold standard’ with…
Inaugural College lecture (by Martin Kelleher)
Friday 13 June 2025, 2pm-4.30pm, Sheffield. Martin Kelleher will deliver the inaugural College Lecture, ‘Satisficing’ standards in dentistry: Who decides? Who benefits? Discounted rates currently available.
New register of implant dentistry mentors
The College has launched an online register of recognised mentors in implant dentistry which will enable those undertaking training to identify and contact appropriately experienced and qualified mentors.
College endorses updated guidance on periodontal diseases
The College of General Dentistry has endorsed newly updated guidance on periodontal diseases from the Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme. The second edition of Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care, published this week, aims to help dental…
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