Do you trust the GDC to reach the right fitness to practise outcome?

Overview 

• Fewer than four in ten dental professionals trust the GDC fitness to practise process.
• Most respondents remained dissatisfied with the process and its outcome.
• Confidence has improved slightly, but trust remains low.
• The findings highlight the importance of specialist legal representation.
• Dentists facing fitness to practise proceedings should not leave the outcome to chance.

New research commissioned by the General Dental Council (GDC) has raised fresh questions about confidence in the fitness to practise process, with fewer than four in ten dental professionals saying they trust the process to reach the correct outcome.

The findings, published in the GDC Fitness to Practise Experiences Survey Report 2026, are based on seven rounds of survey data collected between 2023 and 2025 from 570 dental professionals who had been the subject of a fitness to practise concern and 645 people who had raised concerns with the regulator. The research examined cases that reached a decision between April 2022 and September 2025.

While the GDC says the research points to modest improvements in satisfaction, communication and trust compared with earlier surveys, confidence in the process remains low. The report found that less than half of both dental professionals and complainants trusted the process or considered it fair, appropriate and proportionate.

The report found that less than half of both dental professionals and complainants trusted the process or considered it fair, appropriate and proportionate.

For many dentists, the results may resonate with concerns about the personal and professional impact of becoming involved in regulatory proceedings. The survey found that dissatisfaction remains widespread, with most respondents unhappy with both the fitness to practise process and the eventual outcome of their case.

The research also identified significant differences between the experiences of registrants and those bringing complaints. Dental professionals were more likely than complainants to feel their case had been handled appropriately and proportionately, and were more likely to report that communications from the regulator were clear. However, even among registrants, positive perceptions remained well below a majority.

According to the report, confidence in the process is influenced by more than simply whether an individual agrees with the final outcome. Factors such as the quality of communication, perceptions of fairness and how participants felt they were treated throughout the investigation all played a role in shaping overall satisfaction.

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Responding to the findings, Theresa Thorp, Executive Director of Regulation at the GDC, acknowledged that fitness to practise investigations can cause “real fear and distress” for both dental professionals and complainants. She also recognised that fewer than half of respondents believe the process is fair and proportionate, describing this as “not where we want to be”.

What does this mean for dentists facing a fitness to practise investigation?

The findings are a reminder that fitness to practise proceedings can be complex, lengthy and highly stressful. Although the GDC has reported gradual improvements in confidence and communication, the regulator’s own research suggests that many dental professionals remain unconvinced that the process will consistently deliver the right outcome.

For dentists facing an investigation, that uncertainty underlines the importance of obtaining specialist legal advice at the earliest opportunity. A fitness to practise case can have significant implications for reputation, livelihood and future registration. Decisions made during the early stages of an investigation, including responses to allegations, witness evidence and engagement with remediation, can have a lasting impact on the progression of a case.

Regulatory proceedings should never be left to chance. Experienced legal representation can help ensure that evidence is properly presented, procedural issues are identified, and a dental professional’s position is robustly advanced throughout the investigation and, where necessary, before a fitness to practise tribunal.

With confidence in the process remaining below 40% among dental professionals, the latest research serves as a timely reminder that dentists should not assume the facts will simply speak for themselves. Seeking expert representation may be one of the most important decisions a registrant makes when facing GDC scrutiny.

Your career, reputation and registration are too important to leave to chance. Contact GDC Defence Barristers for specialist fitness to practise advice and representation.

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Disclaimer: This article is for guidance purposes only. Kings View Chambers accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any action taken, or not taken, in relation to this article. You should seek the appropriate legal advice having regard to your own particular circumstances.  Some content may have been generated by AI tools.