In this section of the website we provide you with advice on your duties under employment law, health and safety legislation, contractual arrangements with dentists working in your practice, GDS regulations, professional development and general practice management issues.

Legal Advice and Representation Policy
This document concerns the legal advice and representation provided by the BDA to general dental practitioners. It provides guidance on the services offered, to whom they are available and when they are available. Cick here to download

Contracts
We believe in getting your working relationship right from the start - by having the right contracts in place. We offer various model agreements to help you develop a relevant working contract that includes those issues that can sometimes get overlooked. Our legal advisers are always willing to help you develop a contract that is right for you and include clauses that reflect your individual needs.

In this section you will find information on:

1. partnerships
2. locumships   
3. associateships  
4. self-employed hygienists   
5. assistantships
6. maternity arrangements for dentist

Employing staff
As employers, dentists face numerous legal obligations towards their employees. Employment law is, quite possibly, the most onerous of all legal obligations that an employing dentist has to face in practice.

In this section you will find information on:

1. recruitment
2. employment contracts   
3. employment rights
4. sickness and statutory sick pay
5. maternity arrangements
6. redundancy
7. disciplinary procedures
8. handling staff complaints
9. varying a contract of employment
10. staff appraisal

Health and safety
Have you carried out a risk assessment of your practice premises and work activities? Have you assessed the substances you work with for their health effects? Do you have a first aider or appointed person on your premises whenever it is open? Here you will find practical advice on all aspects of health and safety legislation.

In this section you will find information on:

1. introduction to health and safety
2. risk assessment   
3. premises and the environment 
4. equipment and electricity
5. materials and COSHH
6. radiation   
7. infection control
8. first-aid and accident reporting

Patient communications
Patients are increasingly demanding about the standard of service they receive and require evident value for money.  You need to know your legal obligations towards your patients - what they are entitled to receive routinely and on request. The way that you communicate with your patients will affect their attitude towards you and your practice, so clear and effective communication is essential.

In this section you will find information on:

1. patient consent
2. patient confidentiality   
3. access to health records
4. collecting money from patients   
5. handling patient complaints 
6. promoting the practice

Business management
Dentistry is like any other business in that it needs aims and plans for future development in response to outside influences. Proactive business planning is more likely to lead to success than being forced to react.

In this section you will find information on:

1. business planning
2. staff communications   
3. promoting the practice 
4. practice finances   
5. setting fees 
6. in-practice capitation schemes

Private practice
If you are thinking about reducing your dependence on the NHS, you may need information on the ways that you can achieve this without losing the loyalty of your patients and falling foul of NHS requirements. Good communication with your patients is essential.

In this section you will find information on:

1. the growth of private dental care 
2. the advice sheets you might need   
3. setting your fees

Ethics
Your ethical responsibilities affect most aspects of your practising career and can be the cause of much confusion and deliberation. Ethical issues are many and varied; consent, confidentiality, practice promotion and patient communication are examples that often cause concern.

In this section you will find information on:

1. ethics in dentistry 
2. data protection   
3. marketing in dentistry 
4. handling complaints 

Law and regulations
Dentists face a host of legislation that they must comply with in addition to employment and health and safety legislation, which are dealt with separately. You have various legal requirements that affect the day to day running of a practice.

In this section you will find information on:

1. data protection
2. Freedom of Information Act
3. GDS regualtions   
4. de-registering patients
5. prescribing, dispensing and dental sales
6. disability

Clinical governance
Clinical governance requires you to manage the quality of your service and to have in place the systems that allow you to audit the service that you are providing. Clinical audit encourages you to examine the different aspects of your practice and make improvements where there are weaknesses. We can help you through the requirements of clinical audit and putting it into practice.