1 Registration with General Dental Council.

2 Enrolling as a member of a Defence Society.

3 Sickness Insurance is optional, but highly recommended.

4 Joining British Dental Association also highly recommended.

GENERAL DENTAL COUNCIL:

Function:

- a statutory body.

- promotes high standards of professional education and conduct among dentists.

- registration of dentists.

- dental education and examinations, undergraduate and postgraduate.

- discipline - erasure or suspension from the register if found guilty of serious professional misconduct or if convicted of a criminal offence.

- fitness to practice - assesses mental and physical health, suspension if found unfit to practice.

- dental auxiliaries

DEFENCE UNIONS:

Three recognised bodies -

Medical Defence Union.

Dental Protection Limited.

Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

Functions:

- defence and indemnity against claims for damages.

- safeguard professional reputation.

- assist in complaints and replying to them.

- representing the dentist in court and at committees of investigation.

- advise in matters affecting the dentist's professional career.

- representing the dentist's interests in matters affecting the profession in general.

SICKNESS INSURANCE:

Three main companies -

- Medical Sickness Annuity and Life Assurance Society. (MSS)

- Dentists and General Mutual Benefit Society. (D&G)

- Dentist's Provident Society (DPS)

MSS:

An example package for the newly qualified:

- a monthly premium, static for the first five years.

- no benefit given unless unable to work for at least ONE week.

- after a period of 13 weeks' continuous sickness the premiums need no longer be paid. Premiums recommence on return to work.

- after FIVE years, premiums may be increased or converted such that benefit is doubled and life cover quadrupled.

- insurance is ultimately more expensive for women.

• This cover is useful in combination with cover provided by D&G or DPS. In this way a level of benefit is maintained in long-term illnesses.

• There are many other insurance packages available.

D&G/DPS:

Both are "Friendly Societies" and, as such, are non-profit making organisations which enable a lump sum to be paid on retirement.

The fund for this sum grows yearly by appointment of company profit and interest.

Both give IMMEDIATE sickness cover (as little as a day's absence)

- premiums are better value for women in the long term.

- benefit reduces with a long term illness, though irreducible benefit schemes can be arranged.

BRITISH DENTAL ASSOCIATION

The British Dental Association was formed in 1880 and has been promoting, defending and representing the interests of the dental profession ever since.

- Membership divided into 21 Branches which act as constituencies.

- Branches divided into Sections (altogether approx. 120)

- Special Groups - Hospitals; Community Dental Service; University Dental Teachers and Research Workers; Young Dentists; Women Dentists. - Committees negotiate on pay and other conditions of work.

- Promotes publicity about dentists and dentistry.

- Administers prize and scholarship funds for students.

- Advice available to individual members either personally or by publication of Advice Sheets and Booklets (see page 124).

- Publishes British Dental Journal

- Keeps an interesting museum.

- Keeps best equipped Dental Library in Europe.

Also consider joining

British Dental Health Foundation

General Dental Practitioners Association.