Last month saw the opening of a new statutory register for dental care professionals (DCPs) practising in the UK. Dentists, dental hygienists and dental therapists are already registered with the GDC and now, other professionals who play a role in patients' dental care, including dental nurses and dental technicians, will join the GDC's registers. Registration means that dental professionals have met educational standards and that they are professionally accountable for their actions.

A survey conducted by the GDC found that 55% of adults in the UK believe that dental nurses currently need to be registered with a regulatory body before they can practise. On being told that dental nurses did not need to be registered, two-thirds (67%) of adults thought that dental nurses should be.