As healthcare professionals, it is our duty to always act within the limits of our competence to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients. The General Medical Council’s (GMC) guidance on Good Medical Practice (2013) clearly states that doctors must recognize and respect the boundaries of their professional knowledge and skills. Specifically, you must only prescribe medications or treatments when you have an adequate understanding of the patient’s health, and you are confident that the prescribed interventions are in their best interest.
In practical terms, this means that a General Practitioner (GP) who has not received specific training in dentistry may not possess the required knowledge to properly assess or treat dental issues. Since dental care requires specialised expertise, it is not reasonable to expect a GP to fully understand the complexities of dental conditions or the most effective treatments. Consequently, it is essential that GPs refrain from attempting to address dental concerns outside of their area of expertise, as this could result in suboptimal care for the patient.
To ensure patients with dental complaints receive the appropriate care, we strongly recommend that they are referred or signposted to a local dental practitioner for the treatment of their dental issue. Dentists are trained to diagnose and manage oral health problems and will be best equipped to provide the necessary care.
However, we recognise that patients may present with dental complaints outside of normal working hours or in urgent situations where immediate dental intervention is not possible. In such cases, it may be appropriate for a GP to provide short-term analgesia to alleviate the patient’s pain and discomfort while arrangements are made for them to seek professional care from a dentist.
By following this approach, we can ensure that patients receive the appropriate care from the right professionals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and safeguarding the standards of practice within the medical profession.
