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.

This content has been restricted to logged-in users only. Please login to view this content.

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’.

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

Occlusion and perio symposia for early career dentists

The College has partnered with the Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation and FMC, to host a series of symposia for early career dentists, on the topics of Occlusion and Perio. 

Perio-Occlusion Symposium for Early Career Dentists

Saturday 20 September 2025, 9am-5pm, London. Renowned speakers Dr Reena Wadia and Dr Raman Aulakh FCGDent will deliver lectures, aimed at early career dentists, on…

CGDent-GC Award 2023/24 winners

The College of General Dentistry, GC and The Tom Bereznicki Charitable Educational Foundation congratulate the winners of the inaugural CGDent and GC Award for Foundation…

Endodontics

This session will be rescheduled soon. Share experience and engage in discussion at this bi-monthly CGDent Midlands Peer Review & Pizza series. Led by Dr…

Interviewees sought to help develop clinical risk assessment tool for GDPs

General dental practitioners are being sought to support research towards the development of a clinical risk assessment tool, and the College would like to encourage…

Join us | Sign up for College newsletter | Member Register | Patients and public

Privacy policy | Cookie policy | Contact

Company Registration No. 2586636 | Registered Charity No. 1002769