Dental technologist renewals to the dental care professionals (DCP) register - August 2020

The GDC have today released the figures following the completion of the 2020 dental care professional (DCP) annual renewal fee collection.

The GDC report a small increase in overall DCP registrations. The DTA have specifically compared the dental technician figures to 2019 and this shows a 3% decline in registrants. This figure is similar, although slightly higher than the 2% decline from 2018 to 2019.

What this does not show is how many GDC registered dental technicians may have recently been made redundant due dental laboratory closures or restructuring as a result of COVID-19, yet paid the Annual Retention Fee to remain on the GDC register.

The DTA contacted the GDC requesting financial support options in advance of the GDC Annual Retention Fee and highlighted the financial difficulties that some of the membership have been reporting whilst expressing the rising concern that our profession will lose more highly skilled dental technicians due to dental laboratory closures and redundancies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is encouraging however to see the steady rise in Clinical Dental Technician registrants which has increased by 2% over the 12-month period.

View the GDC August 2020 Report:

https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/registration-reports/reg-report-august-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=2748c5b3_4 

The GDC have also published a news article that summarises the DCP numbers and removals.

https://www.gdc-uk.org/news-blogs/news/detail/2020/08/12/renewals-to-the-dental-care-professionals-register---august-2020