A dentist with a special interest (or DwSI) is a dental practitioner working in a primary care environment, who provides special interest services in addition to having a generalist role.
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are able to contract DwSIs to deliver services where there is a particular local need. Those contracted as DwSIs are often general dental practitioners who have developed skills in an area of special interest.
National Guidelines for the Appointment of DwSIs
In order to ensure quality and safety of care for patients, national guidelines and competencies for the scope of treatment that can be undertaken by DwSIs have been jointly developed by the Department of Health and the FGDP(UK).
Individual DwSIs will be required to demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience in their special interest area to a PCT against a national competency framework.
National guidelines and competencies are available into download below as PDFs:
The FGDP(UK) has published its own guidance for competencies and standards in:
Leadership and management (PDF)
Research(PDF)
Visit our Reports and Policy Documents page in our Publications section to read more.
In 2009 the Department of Health published National Guidelines for the Appointment of DwSIs in Special Care Dentistry, in a joint venture with the British Society of Gerodontology and British Society for Disability and Oral Health.
Links to:
Further information for dentists
Further information for PCTs
Further information for patients
