Standards in dentistry
The completely revised second edition of Standards in Dentistry is a comprehensive manual bringing together standards and guidelines for primary care dentistry.

Acting as a guide to personal or practice-based quality assessment, it is an indispensable compendium for the conscientious oral health professional, and sets out specific basic and aspirational standards covering:
- consultation and diagnosis
- making and receiving referrals
- paediatric dentistry
- orthodontics
- management of acute pain
- periodontics
- direct (plastic), coronal and root surface restorations
- indirect coronal restorations (crowns, bridges, onlays, veneers)
- endodontics
- removable partial dentures
- complete dentures
- oral medicine
- minor oral surgery
- implant dentistry
- management of dental trauma
It also summarises almost 70 standards and guidelines publications by the College of General Dentistry and 30 other organisations relating to the above areas and to:
- emergency dental care
- examination and record-keeping
- infection prevention and control
- medical emergencies
- medications management
- oral health
- pathology
- patient information
- practice management
- prevention
- radiography
- restorative dentistry
- risk management and communication
- sedation
- special care dentistry
- staff training
Standards in Dentistry combines the functions of two publications previously published by FGDP(UK), Self-Assessment Manual and Standards (SAMS) and Guidelines for Structure and Process in Dental Practice, and the first edition was edited by Kenneth Eaton and published in 2006.
The second edition represents a complete revision and update by Professor David Moles and his colleagues at Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry to reflect the contemporary clinical, organisational and dento-legal contexts in which dentistry is now practised, as well as changes in the evidence base over the intervening years.
It is available to view online free of charge, however you will need to log in or register an account. College members can also download the publication (strictly for personal use), and have access to search, text-select and print functionality. Membership is available from £125 per year for dentists, from £83 for other dental professionals, and from £42 for Dental Nurses and those eligible for a concession.
Related articles
CGDent members can view full articles via the links below by first visiting the PDJ Member Access page and clicking ‘Access the PDJ Archive’.
- The Updated Periodontal Classification: Answers to 10 Common Questions by Reena Wadia (February 2020)
- When Less is More: Minimally Invasive, Evidence-Based Treatments for Dentine Caries in Primary Teeth – The Hall Technique and Silver Diamine Fluoride by Waraf Al-Yaseen, Nassar Seifo, Shannu Bhatia, Nicola Innes (January 2022)
- Complications in Endodontics by Bhavin Bhuva (November 2020)
- An Evaluation of a Practice-Based Minor Oral Surgery Service by Thomas Anthony Dyer, Jessica Ga Lai Lau (October 2020)
- Obtaining Consent in Orthodontics: Difficulties and Considerations by Joe Tyson (December 2016)
Non-members who wish to read one of these papers, or other Primary Dental Journal articles, have the option to join the College or subscribe to the PDJ.
Related events, news & blogs
BSRD spring meeting 2023
**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. IF YOU HAVE BOOKED A TICKET TO THIS EVENT, THE BSRD WILL CONTACT YOU SHORTLY. FOLLOW THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION** Thursday 18 May & Friday 19 May 2023, RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey Biomimetics…..bio sustainability? The British Society for Restorative Dentistry’s Spring Meeting, will examine a range of topics related to Biomimetics in dentistry, delivered by an array of speakers from across…
CGDent Midlands Study Club for Early Career GDPs: Endodontics
Tuesday 21 February 2023, 6.30pm-8.30pm, Solihull The new CGDent Midlands study club for Early Career GDPs, aims to share expertise, experience and knowledge as well as…
Advanced restorative study day
Friday 17 February 2023 Advanced restorative study day delivered by Stride Dental Academy in support of CGDent in Cymru/Wales Stride Dental Academy, Bangor, North Wales,…
Dental care for patients with diabetes
CGDent recorded webinar, Thursday 26 January 2023 In this webinar hosted by the College and Office of Chief Dental Officer England (OCDO), we explore the…
CGDent Northern Ireland conference
CGDent Northern Ireland Biennial Conference 2022: Recreating nature – perfecting smiles Friday 14 October 2022, 8.30am-5.30pm and Saturday 15 October 2022 (optional) Waterfront Hall, Belfast…
Join us | Sign up for College newsletter | Member Register | Patients and public
Privacy policy | Cookie policy | Contact
College of General Dentistry (CGDent), 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX
Company Registration No. 2586636 | Registered Charity No. 1002769