EDM 1240: Overseas-qualified dentists

That this House notes that around 5,000 overseas-qualified dentists are currently waiting to sit the Overseas Registration Exam (ORE) in order to practice dentistry in the UK; further notes that each application process costs individuals approximately £5,000; highlights the case of one South Cotswolds constituent who has been unable to secure an exam slot for over two years; recognises the acute shortage of dentists, particularly in rural areas; acknowledges the serious consequences of limited access to dental care, including chronic pain and untreated infections; believes that enabling overseas-qualified dentists to practice can help relieve pressure on the existing dental workforce; and calls on the General Dental Council to re-evaluate the ORE process, expand exam capacity, and explore supervised practice pathways as a route to registration.