This number is calculated from information on dental indemnity and representation derived from Freedom of Information requests to GDC, and dental patient statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre and the UK National Statistics Publication Hub.  The average dentist's "list" size has been calculated to amount to 1,750 patients.  The approximate number of potentially at-risk patients has been determined by multiplying the list size of the average dentist by the number of dentists over the period who have been the subject of GDC professional conduct hearings and have been found to be without indemnity and/or absent and unrepresented at the hearings.  More details are available on request.