Dentists Act 1984

Use of titles and descriptions U.K.

26 Use of titles and descriptions. U.K.

(1) A registered dentist shall by virtue of being registered be entitled to take and use the description of dentist, dental surgeon or dental practitioner.

(2) A registered dentist shall not take or use, or affix to or use in connection with his premises, any title or description reasonably calculated to suggest that he possesses any professional status or qualification other than a professional status or qualification which he in fact possesses and which is indicated by particulars entered in the register in respect of him.

(3) If the Council are of opinion that any branch of dentistry has become so distinctive that it would be for the convenience of the public or of the dental profession that registered dentists qualified to practise, or practising, in that branch of dentistry should use a distinctive title, they may by regulations prescribe appropriate titles and conditions under which they may be used; and the use of a prescribed title under the prescribed conditions shall not constitute a contravention of subsection (2) above.

(4) In the case of any prescribed title regulations under subsection (3) above may provide—

(a) for a list to be kept by the Council of the names of registered dentists who are qualified under such regulations to use that title; and

(b) for any registered dentist who is so qualified to be entitled to have his name entered in the list;

and where regulations so provide as aforesaid nothing in that subsection shall permit that title to be used by any such dentist unless his name has been entered in the list.

[F1 (4A) The Council may make regulations—

(a) prescribing a fee to be charged on the entry of a name in a list for the time being kept by them under subsection (4), or on the restoration of any entry to such a list;

(b) prescribing a fee to be charged in respect of the retention of the name of a person in such a list.

(4B) Regulations under subsection (4A) may in particular authorise the registrar—

(a) to refuse to make in or restore to a list for the time being kept by the Council under subsection (4) any entry until a fee prescribed by the regulations has been paid; and

(b) to erase from such a list the name of a person who, after such notices and warnings as may be prescribed by the regulations, fails to pay a fee prescribed by the regulations in respect of the retention of a person’s name in that list.]

F2 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) F3 ... above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the third level on the standard scale.

[F4 (7) The Council shall from time to time publish any list for the time being kept by them under subsection (4).]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 26(4A)(4B) inserted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), art. 15(a) (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)

F2 S. 26(5) omitted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by virtue of The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), art. 15(b) (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)

F3 Words in s. 26(6) omitted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by virtue of The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), art. 15(c) (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)

F4 S. 26(7) substituted (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(4)-(7) of the amending S.I. (see the London Gazette, issue nos. 57734, 57975, 58050 and 58769, dated respectively 19.8.2005, 5.6.2006, 21.7.2006 and 18.7.2008)) by The Dentists Act 1984 (Amendment) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/2011), art. 15(d) (with Sch. 7) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2006/1671)