Dentists Act 1984

Registration

14 The dentists register and the registrar

(1) There shall continue to be a register known as the dentists register.

(2) The register shall be kept by a registrar who shall perform such duties in connection with the register as the Council may direct, and in the execution of his duties he shall act on such evidence as in each case appears sufficient.

(3) Any appointment to the office of registrar shall be made by the Council, and any person appointed shall hold office for such period and shall receive such salary as may be fixed by the Council.

(4) The Council may appoint a person to act as assistant registrar who shall be paid such salary or remuneration as the Council may from time to time determine.

(5) The register shall be deemed to be in proper custody when in the custody of the registrar, and shall be of such a public nature as to be admissible as evidence of all matters in it on its mere production from that custody.

(6) A certificate purporting to be a certificate under the hand of the registrar stating—

(a) that any person is or is not, or was or was not at any date, duly registered in the register, or

(b) that any particulars are or are not, or were or were not at any date, contained in the register with respect to any person,

shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of law of the facts stated in the certificate.

15 Qualification for registration in the dentists register

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act the following persons shall be entitled to be registered in the dentists register in accordance with this Act, namely—

(a) any person who is a graduate or licentiate in dentistry of a dental authority;

(b) any person who is a national of a member State and holds an appropriate European diploma ; and

(c) any person who holds a recognised overseas diploma.

(2) In subsection (1) above—

• " appropriate European diploma " shall be construed in accordance with Schedule 2 to this Act;

• " national ", in relation to a member State, means the same as in the Community Treaties, but does not include a person who by virtue of Article 2 of Protocol No. 3 (Channel Islands and Isle of Man) to the Treaty of Accession is not to benefit from Community provisions relating to the free movement of persons and services ;

and in this Act " recognised overseas diploma" means a diploma granted in a country overseas and recognised for the time being by the Council for the purposes of this Act, and does not include an appropriate European diploma.

(3) A person shall not be entitled to be registered in the dentists register under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above unless he satisfies the registrar as to the following matters, namely—

(a) his identity;

(b) that he is of good character; and

(c) that he is in good health, both physically and mentally.

(4) A person shall not be entitled to be registered in the dentists register under paragraph (c) of that subsection unless he satisfies the registrar as to the following matters, namely—

(a) his identity;

(b) that he is of good character;

(c) that he has satisfied the Council that he has the requisite knowledge and skill;

(d) that he has the necessary knowledge of English; and

(e) that he is in good health, both physically and mentally.

(5) An applicant for registration under subsection (1)(c) above has the necessary knowledge of English if he has the knowledge which, in the interests of himself and his patients, is necessary for the practice of dentistry in the United Kingdom.

(6) The Council may direct that for the purposes of this section a particular person who has passed the examinations required to obtain a recognised overseas diploma shall be treated as a person holding a recognised overseas diploma

16 Supplementary provisions as to registration of holders of overseas diplomas

(1) Except in a case falling within subsection (2) below the Council shall for the purpose of satisfying themselves that a person has the requisite knowledge and skill as mentioned in section 15(4)(c) above, and in addition to such other requirements as they may impose on him, require him to sit for examinations held by a dental authority, or a group of dental authorities, under arrangements made by the Council.

(2) If the diploma held by the person in question is of a kind recognised for the time being by the Council as furnishing such guarantees of that person's possessing the requisite knowledge and skill as warrant dispensing with further inquiry, he shall be taken to have satisfied the Council that he has the requisite knowledge and skill.

(3) For the purpose of satisfying themselves that it is appropriate to recognise under subsection (2) above any diploma granted by an overseas institution, the Council may appoint persons to visit that institution and to attend the examinations to be taken in order to obtain the diploma; and the persons so appointed shall report to the Council as to the sufficiency of the instruction given in the institution and as to the adequacy of the examinations concerned for testing the knowledge and skill of those taking them.

(4) The Council may—

(a) make regulations as to the examinations to be held for the purposes of this section and may include in the regulations provisions for withdrawing the right to sit for any such examinations from a person who has not first paid the fee prescribed by the regulations for sitting for the examinations or from a person who has previously failed to pass such examinations on such number of occasions as may be prescribed by the regulations; and

(b) appoint persons to attend any such examinations who shall report to the Council as to the adequacy of the examinations for testing the knowledge and skill of those taking them.

(5) The Council shall have power to remunerate persons who are not members of the Council for acting as visitors under subsection (3) or (4)(b) above.

(6) The Council may direct that for the purposes of this section a particular person who has passed the examinations required to obtain a recognised overseas diploma shall be treated as a person holding a recognised overseas diploma.

(7) Regulations under subsection (4)(a) above shall not come into force until approved by order of the Privy Council.

17 Temporary registration

(1) Where the Council, with a view to permitting any person holding a recognised overseas diploma temporarily to practise dentistry in a particular post in a hospital or other institution, give a direction that he be registered as respects practice in that post in that hospital or institution for such period as may be specified in the direction, that person shall be entitled to be registered in the dentists register in accordance with this Act subject to the entry against his name of the restrictions specified in the direction.

(2) No direction shall be given under this section unless the persons concerned has satisfied the registrar as to the following matters, namely—

(a) his identity;

(b) that he is of good character;

(c) that he has the requisite knowledge and skill for the efficient practice of dentistry in the post in question ;

(d) that he has the necessary knowledge of English; and

(e) that he is in good health, both physically and mentally.

(3) An applicant for registration under this section has the necessary knowledge of English if he has the knowledge which, in the interests of himself and his patients, is necessary for the practice of dentistry in the United Kingdom.

(4) Registration under this section shall not make it lawful for a person to practise dentistry otherwise than subject to the restrictions specified in the relevant direction nor constitute him a registered dentist for the purposes of Schedule 1 to this Act.

(5) The Council may direct that for the purposes of this section a particular person who has passed the examinations required to obtain a recognised overseas diploma shall be treated as a person holding a recognised overseas diploma.