UK Dental Complaints Hit Five-Year High in 2025, Orthodontics and Clinical Examinations Become High-Risk Compliance Areas for Practitioners

Source: 2025 Competent Practice Statistical Report

DentalGoodNews｜On June 3, 2026, local time, the General Dental Council (GDC) of the UK released the "Fitness to Practise Statistical Report 2025". The report shows that in 2025, the GDC received 1,766 new Fitness to Practise (FtP) complaints, a 26% increase year-on-year from 1,401 in 2024, hitting a five-year high.

Source: 2025 Competent Practice Statistical Report

Among the new complaints, those against Dental Care Professionals (DCP) saw a particularly notable increase, rising by 45% year-on-year; complaints against dentists increased by 21%. Despite the significant rise in case volume, the number of practitioners ultimately erased from the register in 2025 remained at 18, unchanged from the previous year, accounting for 0.01% of the total registered practitioners.

Source: 2025 Competent Practice Statistical Report

In the clinical field, orthodontic examinations became the most frequently challenged aspect. Data shows that at the Assessment Stage, there were 761 cases under review, of which 58% were purely clinical issues. The report indicates that among purely clinical cases, allegations related to clinical examinations were the most common, accounting for 37% of all clinical allegations; followed by Orthodontics (15%), Fillings (14%), Extractions (12%), and failure to follow evidence-based care and best practices (11%). Additionally, at the initial Practice Committee hearing stage, approximately 60% of allegations were related to practitioner conduct issues, with professional behavior problems becoming a significant focus in later proceedings.

Source: 2025 Competent Practice Statistical Report

Case processing efficiency showed a mixed trend. The average completion time for the Assessment Stage increased from 76 weeks in 2024 to 78 weeks, reflecting the still lengthy investigation cycles for complex cases. However, once cases entered the post-assessment decision phase, the average processing time dropped significantly from 50 weeks to 36 weeks. For clinical cases involving a single patient, the GDC streamlined the investigation process, reducing the average processing time at the Assessment Stage from 30 weeks to 16 weeks, an efficiency improvement of nearly 50%.

Source: 2025 Competent Practice Statistical Report

The report disclosed for the first time Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) data in Fitness to Practise cases. The data shows that Asian or British Asian dentists account for 31% of all registered dentists but made up 36% of new complaints in 2025; white dentists account for 46% of registrants and 35% of new complaints. Among DCPs, Asian or British Asian practitioners represent 12% of registrants but account for 19% of complaints; white DCPs make up 73% of registrants and 62% of new complaints. The GDC emphasized that these data only reflect case distribution and cannot be used alone to determine causality, requiring analysis in conjunction with factors such as practice environment, organizational size, and regional context.

Theresa Thorp, Executive Director of Regulation at the GDC, stated in the report that the Fitness to Practise investigation process remains time-consuming and complex, which can easily lead to distrust and anxiety among practitioners regarding the regulatory process, potentially negatively impacting their mental health and professional status. She noted that the GDC will continue to enhance transparency, optimize investigation procedures, and improve support mechanisms for participants, aiming to reduce additional procedural stress while ensuring patient safety.