Professional Standards — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: E — Put patients' interests first

The GDC Standards for the Dental Team explicitly identify 'Put patients' interests first' as Principle 1 and the foundational overriding duty for all dental professionals. This principle takes precedence over all other professional obligations. Option A (financial viability) is secondary to patient protection and may conflict with regulatory requirements. Option B (professional wellbeing) is a supportive obligation to maintain fitness to practise, not an overriding duty. Option C (latest guidelines) must be followed with professional judgment and justified deviations, but is conditional on patient benefit. Option D (record-keeping) is instrumental to protecting patients but not the overriding principle itself. The GDC framework makes explicit that conflicts between practice pressures and patient protection must be resolved in patients' favour.

Reference: General Dental Council. Standards for the Dental Team. https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pdf/Standards%20for%20the%20Dental%20Team.pdf (2013, current guidance for UK practice)