These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 (“the 1996 Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2)(c) and 2(7)(a), (b), (e), (f), (g) and (i) removes references to general anaesthesia which may no longer be provided under general dental services.

Regulation 2(2)(a) amends the definition of assistant to include those persons who are vocational trainees under the supervision of salaried dentists.

Regulation 2(3), (4) and (5) amends regulation 5(1) and inserts a new regulation 5A. These provide that where a dentist applies for inclusion in Part A of the dental list the Health Board or primary care NHS trust may inspect the proposed practice premises before processing the application but where the premises have never before been inspected by the Health Board or PCT then there must be an inspection before the application can be processed. All premises must then be inspected by a Health Board or PCT at intervals not exceeding 3 years.

Regulation 2(6) amends regulation 22 of the 1996 Regulations regarding the statement of dental remuneration. It replaces postgraduate education allowances with continuing professional development allowance and adds a new matter being allowances in respect of practice improvements.

Regulation 2(7)(c) and (d) amends paragraph 16 of Schedule 1, which allows the mixing of private dental treatment with general dental services, in order to prevent general anaesthesia from being administered privately in connection with treatment under general dental services.

Regulation 2(7)(h) amends paragraph 33(4) of Schedule 1 to provide that in respect of inspection of premises the general dental practitioner allows inspections in all cases to include inspection of dental procedures and staff training.