Whether it will insist that denturists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians have to register with the General Dental Council…

It is already a legal requirement, and has been since July 2006, that clinical dental technicians (also known as denturists), who fit and make dentures, must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) in order to practise. Some have already registered. Regulation and registration, whose prime purpose is to enhance patient safety, allows clinical dental technicians to work within the law. In the past those fitting dentures were committing a criminal offence, as only dentists or persons acting under the supervision of dentists were able to do so.
The 2006 legislation also requires dental technicians, who make but do not fit dentures, to register with the GDC by 31 July 2008. They have had since July 2006 to register on the basis of GDC approved experience and/or qualifications. From 31 July 2008 they can only register on the basis of approved qualifications. The GDC has carried out a widespread publicity campaign to ensure that dental technicians register before the deadline.
There are a number of Scottish courses leading to the qualifications required for registration as a dental technician. It is also recognised that there are dental technicians who wish to register as clinical dental technicians so that they can fit as well as make dentures. A Scottish course has been developed for approval by the GDC.
I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-11637 and S3W-11638 on 18 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.