Dental CPD

Please watch this introduction video by our Chief Dental Officer Gillian Leslie describing this national Quality Improvement project.

The Quality Improvement (QI) activity requirements for year 2 of the 2025-28 cycle focuses on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). This activity aims to align with the UK wide 5-year National Action Plan for antimicrobial resistance. The plan summarises a number of key themes in helping to reduce the impact of AMR on our health care systems. Key to this is education of all health care workers and the general public.

Members of the dental team have a responsibility in ensuring careful stewardship of antimicrobials whether that be through appropriate prescribing or the advice we give to the public. This responsibility extends beyond clinical roles and specialties. It is for this reason that we have prepared this QI module to be completed by all GDS and PDS dentists (including orthodontists) and their dental teams.

The Quality Improvement (QI) activity requirements for year 2 involves the completion of five short Turas e-learning modules, a practice-based reflective team meeting and a team action plan and provides a practice antimicrobial protocol template. This dental team-led QI project will help practices develop a better understanding of their responsibilities regarding antimicrobial stewardship and promote evidence-based practice.

This guide has been developed to support dental teams to carry out this QI activity and fulfil their QI requirements.

The aim of this dental team-led QI activity is to enhance dental teams understanding of their role in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) with a focus on implementing evidence-based practice.

The intended learning outcomes of this QI activity for dental teams are:

• Recognise the role of the dental team in global antimicrobial stewardship.
• Identify available guidelines and resources in relation to appropriate antimicrobial prescribing in dentistry.
• Implement evidence-based local measures to manage dental infection appropriately in the first instance.
• Document the clinical justification for prescribing antimicrobials, using evidence-based guidelines to inform the appropriate antibiotic, dose and regime.
• Evaluate local prescribing practises, identify barriers and opportunities to change, and implement local change to promote antimicrobial stewardship.
• Identify opportunities to educate patients about the appropriate use of antimicrobials, the threat of antimicrobial resistance and self-care advice for self-limiting conditions.
• Reflect on the impact of the learning and changes made at an individual and team level.

Dentists who are listed to provide NHS General Dental Services in Scotland are required to participate. This QI activity has been shared with all dental teams and practitioners in GDS across Scotland and is a requirement for Year 2 of the Quality Improvement Activity 2025-28 Cycle.

Participation by dentists is a requirement for Year 2 of the Quality Improvement Activity 2025-28 Cycle. This QI activity has been developed for the whole dental practice team.

The learning programme includes a series of 5 e-learning modules, a short knowledge check and a team-based reflective meeting. 

Please note: Access to the Learning Programme will open on 1st of August