Dental Nursing Unit 301 Exam Prep
2026/2027: 140 Practice Questions with
Answers & Explanations | GDC Standards
Updated
Description:
Master your Dental Nurse Unit 301 exam with 140 updated practice questions covering GDC
standards 2025, CQC regulations, consent, safeguarding, and professional practice.
Includes verified answers and detailed explanations for 2026/2027 exam success.
Download now to pass with confidence!
, Dental Nurse Exam Questions 2026 (Unit 301)
Section A: Professional Regulation and the Role of the GDC
1. What is the primary statutory function of the General Dental Council (GDC)?
A) To provide continuing professional development courses for dental professionals
B) To regulate dental professionals and protect the public from harm
C) To employ dental nurses and manage dental practices
D) To set fees for dental treatments in the UK
Answer: B
Explanation: The General Dental Council is the regulatory body for the dental profession. Its
primary role is to protect patients from harm and maintain public confidence in all members of
the dental profession. The GDC achieves this by setting standards that all dental professionals
must meet, investigating complaints, and taking appropriate action where fitness to practise is
impaired.
2. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the General Dental Council?
A) Setting standards for the dental team
B) Maintaining the register of dental professionals
C) Employing dental nurses in NHS practices
D) Investigating allegations of impaired fitness to practise
Answer: C
Explanation: The GDC's statutory responsibilities include maintaining the register of dental
professionals, setting standards for the dental team, setting standards for dental education, and
investigating allegations of impaired fitness to practise. Employing dental nurses is not a
function of the GDC; this is the responsibility of individual dental practices or NHS trusts.
,3. The GDC's Scope of Practice guidance was most recently updated in November 2025.
What was the primary aim of this revision?
A) To expand the scope of practice for all seven dental professional titles
B) To provide greater clarity on existing professional boundaries and support professional
judgement
C) To reduce the number of dental professional titles
D) To remove all previous scope of practice guidance
Answer: B
Explanation: The Scope of Practice guidance was updated on 1 November 2025 following a
review and public consultation. The revised guidance has not changed the scope of practice for
any of the seven dental professional titles. Instead, it provides greater clarity on existing title
boundaries and better enables dental professionals to use their professional judgement within
these boundaries in the interest of patients.
4. According to the GDC's Scope of Practice guidance (2025), before carrying out any task
within their professional scope, a dental professional must ensure they are:
A) Authorised by their practice manager
B) Trained, competent, and covered by appropriate indemnity
C) Recommended by a senior colleague
D) Listed as qualified on the practice website
Answer: B
Explanation: The GDC has emphasised that having a professional title does not automatically
mean a professional can or should do everything within that title's scope. They must be trained,
competent and covered by indemnity or insurance before carrying out any task that falls within
their professional title's scope.
, 5. How does the 2025 Scope of Practice guidance differ from the previous 2013 version in
its approach?
A) It provides specific task lists for each dental professional role
B) It has transitioned from a list of tasks to more general descriptions of roles, focusing on
principles of scope
C) It has reduced the scope of practice for dental nurses
D) It no longer requires dental professionals to be registered
Answer: B
Explanation: The 2025 guidance has transitioned from a list of tasks that a certain professional
can perform to more general descriptions of roles. Instead of listing specific tasks, it sets out the
principles of scope and places emphasis on being trained, competent, having appropriate
indemnity cover, and working under the correct direction or prescription where required.
6. What is the purpose of the GDC's Standards for the Dental Team?
A) To provide marketing guidelines for dental practices
B) To set out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics that govern dental professionals
C) To determine the salaries of dental team members
D) To establish uniform pricing for dental procedures
Answer: B
Explanation: The Standards for the Dental Team sets out the standards of conduct, performance
and ethics that govern you as a dental professional. All dental professionals must practise in
accordance with these standards at all times.
7. Which of the following is a requirement of student fitness to practise during dental
nursing training?
A) Achieving a minimum of 90% in all written examinations
B) Meeting requirements relating to clinical/technical work, academic work, professional
behaviour, and health
2026/2027: 140 Practice Questions with
Answers & Explanations | GDC Standards
Updated
Description:
Master your Dental Nurse Unit 301 exam with 140 updated practice questions covering GDC
standards 2025, CQC regulations, consent, safeguarding, and professional practice.
Includes verified answers and detailed explanations for 2026/2027 exam success.
Download now to pass with confidence!
, Dental Nurse Exam Questions 2026 (Unit 301)
Section A: Professional Regulation and the Role of the GDC
1. What is the primary statutory function of the General Dental Council (GDC)?
A) To provide continuing professional development courses for dental professionals
B) To regulate dental professionals and protect the public from harm
C) To employ dental nurses and manage dental practices
D) To set fees for dental treatments in the UK
Answer: B
Explanation: The General Dental Council is the regulatory body for the dental profession. Its
primary role is to protect patients from harm and maintain public confidence in all members of
the dental profession. The GDC achieves this by setting standards that all dental professionals
must meet, investigating complaints, and taking appropriate action where fitness to practise is
impaired.
2. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the General Dental Council?
A) Setting standards for the dental team
B) Maintaining the register of dental professionals
C) Employing dental nurses in NHS practices
D) Investigating allegations of impaired fitness to practise
Answer: C
Explanation: The GDC's statutory responsibilities include maintaining the register of dental
professionals, setting standards for the dental team, setting standards for dental education, and
investigating allegations of impaired fitness to practise. Employing dental nurses is not a
function of the GDC; this is the responsibility of individual dental practices or NHS trusts.
,3. The GDC's Scope of Practice guidance was most recently updated in November 2025.
What was the primary aim of this revision?
A) To expand the scope of practice for all seven dental professional titles
B) To provide greater clarity on existing professional boundaries and support professional
judgement
C) To reduce the number of dental professional titles
D) To remove all previous scope of practice guidance
Answer: B
Explanation: The Scope of Practice guidance was updated on 1 November 2025 following a
review and public consultation. The revised guidance has not changed the scope of practice for
any of the seven dental professional titles. Instead, it provides greater clarity on existing title
boundaries and better enables dental professionals to use their professional judgement within
these boundaries in the interest of patients.
4. According to the GDC's Scope of Practice guidance (2025), before carrying out any task
within their professional scope, a dental professional must ensure they are:
A) Authorised by their practice manager
B) Trained, competent, and covered by appropriate indemnity
C) Recommended by a senior colleague
D) Listed as qualified on the practice website
Answer: B
Explanation: The GDC has emphasised that having a professional title does not automatically
mean a professional can or should do everything within that title's scope. They must be trained,
competent and covered by indemnity or insurance before carrying out any task that falls within
their professional title's scope.
, 5. How does the 2025 Scope of Practice guidance differ from the previous 2013 version in
its approach?
A) It provides specific task lists for each dental professional role
B) It has transitioned from a list of tasks to more general descriptions of roles, focusing on
principles of scope
C) It has reduced the scope of practice for dental nurses
D) It no longer requires dental professionals to be registered
Answer: B
Explanation: The 2025 guidance has transitioned from a list of tasks that a certain professional
can perform to more general descriptions of roles. Instead of listing specific tasks, it sets out the
principles of scope and places emphasis on being trained, competent, having appropriate
indemnity cover, and working under the correct direction or prescription where required.
6. What is the purpose of the GDC's Standards for the Dental Team?
A) To provide marketing guidelines for dental practices
B) To set out the standards of conduct, performance and ethics that govern dental professionals
C) To determine the salaries of dental team members
D) To establish uniform pricing for dental procedures
Answer: B
Explanation: The Standards for the Dental Team sets out the standards of conduct, performance
and ethics that govern you as a dental professional. All dental professionals must practise in
accordance with these standards at all times.
7. Which of the following is a requirement of student fitness to practise during dental
nursing training?
A) Achieving a minimum of 90% in all written examinations
B) Meeting requirements relating to clinical/technical work, academic work, professional
behaviour, and health
