UK legislation, standards & clinical guidance
Back to TDNSCReliable sources for Level 3 Diploma in Dental Nursing learners. We explain the difference between legislation, professional standards and clinical or technical guidance. These references support revision; they do not make every practice policy identical.
GDC — Obtain valid consent
GDC Principle 3: informed discussion, documented consent, and consent that remains valid throughout treatment.
Open the official source ↗Mental Capacity Act 2005 — Code of Practice
England and Wales: decision-specific capacity, supported decision-making and best interests.
Open the official source ↗GDC — Maintain and protect patients’ information
Confidentiality and secure, appropriate use of patient information.
Open the official source ↗Data Protection Act 2018 (as amended)
Read alongside UK GDPR when learning about lawful use of personal information.
Open the official source ↗Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R)
Regulates medical exposures, including justification and optimisation. Keep IR(ME)R distinct from IRR17.
Open the official source ↗Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17)
Workplace radiation protection; a different legal framework from IR(ME)R.
Open the official source ↗NHS England — HTM 01-05
Decontamination of reusable instruments in primary-care dental settings.
Open the official source ↗GDC — Standards for the Dental Team
Principles of conduct, performance and ethics for dental professionals.
Open the official source ↗Important: Some provisions apply differently across the UK's four nations. The Mental Capacity Act code linked above applies to England and Wales; HTM 01-05 is NHS England guidance. Always check the current publication, your training provider’s requirements and local clinical policies. These links have not been used to independently clinically sign off all TDNSC questions.
This is an independent revision resource, not an official GDC, NHS or exam-board website.