New edition of Standards in Dentistry is now online

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 20. October 2025

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LONDON, England: The UK College of General Dentistry has released the third edition of Standards in Dentistry, a comprehensive and freely accessible online manual that consolidates current standards and guidelines for primary care dentistry. Serving as a practical reference for both individual and practice-wide quality assessment, the compendium outlines basic and aspirational standards across 17 key areas of dental practice.

Focusing on practitioner processes rather than treatment outcomes, the manual adopts the college’s established notation system for grading recommendations as aspirational, basic or conditional. Fifteen of these areas—including consultation, diagnosis and endodontics—have been comprehensively updated from the second edition to reflect recent evidence and contemporary developments. In addition, two new sets of standards have been introduced, covering aesthetic and digital dentistry.

Standards in Dentistry also summarises more than 100 standards, guidelines and advisory publications issued by the college and over 50 other national and international organisations. It signposts readers to further relevant resources, professional bodies and legislation.

Moreover, summaries of 18 clinical and non-clinical topics from the second edition have been revised, including sections on clinical governance and emergency dental care. Four summaries have also been newly added, addressing antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship; environmental sustainability; equality, diversity and inclusion; and mental health and well-being.

The first edition of Standards in Dentistry was published by the former Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) in 2006, combining the functions of two earlier FGDP publications: Self-Assessment Manual and Standards and Guidelines for Structure and Process in Dental Practice. The second edition followed in 2018. Since inheriting the FGDP’s portfolio of guidance and standards publications in 2021, the college has made them widely available to the profession. The new edition represents the college’s first comprehensive update of a flagship FGDP work and is the first standards document to feature its new branding since the recent grant of a coat of arms.

Celebrating the publication of the latest edition, Dr Roshni Karia, president of the College of General Dentistry, said in a press release: “The provision of guidance and standards by dental professionals, for dental professionals, is central to the mission of the college, and Standards in Dentistry is an indispensable reference guide offering a comprehensive pool of information for all those working in general dental practice and primary dental care.”

She continued: “Generations of oral healthcare professionals across the world have been supported by this and other publications of the former FGDP in their journey to provide effective clinical care and better outcomes for their patients, and the college will continue to provide this assistance for future generations. On behalf of the college, I would like to thank all the authors for their hard work, and the many college members and external consultees who gave their time to provide feedback and suggestions.”

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Topics:

General Dentistry

Tags:

College of General Dentistry Dental care Dental guidelines Dental practice Publications Standards in dentistry

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