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The Case Examiners considered allegations that the Registrant’s fitness to practise is impaired by reason of misconduct and deficient professional performance. Allegations in this case concern a wide-ranging failure by the Registrant, a dentist, to provide an adequate standard of care to multiple patients, record keeping failures, inadequate radiographic practice and inadequate prescribing practice between 2020 and 2023. The Case Examiners were satisfied that the following General Dental Council ‘Standards for the Dental Team’ (September 2013) could be engaged in this case at: Standard 4.1: ‘You must make and keep contemporaneous, complete and accurate patient records.’ Standard 7.1: ‘You must provide good quality care based on current evidence and authoritative guidance.’ Having determined that there is a real prospect of all of the facts alleged being proved, and of the statutory grounds of misconduct and deficient professional performance being established, but no real prospect of a Practice Committee finding the Registrant’s fitness to practise to be currently impaired, the Case Examiners are satisfied that this case ought not to be considered by a Practice Committee. However, the Case Examiners consider that although there is no real prospect of a finding of current impairment being made, there is evidence to suggest that the Registrant’s overall conduct has fallen below the standard expected to a degree warranting a formal response from the General Dental Council. To dispose of this case without further action would, in the Case Examiners’ view, fail to declare and uphold proper standards of behaviour and conduct, nor would it help to maintain confidence in the dental profession. The Case Examiners have consequently noted that their Indicative Outcomes Guidance (February 2018) states at paragraphs: ‘81. …, the Case Examiners do not consider that there is a real prospect of current impairment being established, the Case Examiners may wish to consider whether the imposition of a warning.’ The Case Examiners accordingly consider that a warning, published for 24 months, would be a proportionate response to the Registrant allegedly breaching the General Dental Council’s Standards and indicate to him that this conduct should not be repeated. This has taken into account this case represents the inadequate care of multiple patients during 2020 to 2023 when the Registrant may have been considered inexperienced. We have accepted the insight and remediation subsequently put in place and consider the risk of repetition of the conduct detailed in the relevant allegations is considered to be low. The Registrant is reminded that this warning will form part of his fitness to practise history, and he may be required to disclose it even after the period for publication has expired.

The Case Examiners formally warn the Registrant that: • Failure to maintain an adequate standard of record keeping can impact upon ongoing patient care. Clinical records must be sufficiently detailed so as to allow future audit or review, to understand any and all clinical considerations, justifications and potential diagnostic conclusions. • Failure to undertake a full assessment of the patient’s oral health and presenting condition can lead to unnecessary or inappropriate treatment being provided. It is essential to undertake, and record, a methodical and thorough diagnostic assessment (which may include, but not be limited to, the taking of dental history, details of presenting condition, intra and extra oral examination, soft tissue check and TMJ check) prior to planning treatment. • Failure to undertake full diagnostic assessments can have significant impact upon patients. The Registrant must undertake a full assessment at the beginning of any treatment. • Failure to undertake sufficient pre-treatment investigations can have a significant impact upon the patient’s oral health and can lead to inappropriate treatment being provided. The Registrant must undertake full pre-treatment investigations at the beginning of any treatment. • Failure to diagnose caries and to provide appropriate advice on that risk can have consequences for the patients. The Registrant must ensure that caries risk is fully and accurately assessed in every case [in accordance with FGDP criteria] and that this risk level is updated and recorded appropriately. • Failure to diagnose and subsequently treat caries can result in serious complications for a patient including the need to extract the patient’s teeth. The Registrant must ensure that the necessary measures are taken to diagnose and treat caries in order to increase the longevity of a patient’s teeth. • Failure to provide a good standard of restorative work can result in irreversible damage for patients. The Registrant must ensure he maintains and keeps up to date his skill and knowledge of current restorative dentistry to ensure that his provides an appropriate standard of restorative treatment for all patients. • His prescribing practise did not appear to follow the required guidance which was in place at the time. The Registrant must ensure that he is fully conversant with the latest guidance on antibiotic prescribing, especially to patients with potentially compromising medical conditions. • Failure to record the grading and justification of radiographs departs from accepted standards including the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Amended Regulations 2024 and can compromise patient care. The Registrant must ensure that she follows the relevant guidelines and standards to ensure he grades and justifies radiographs appropriately.