A dentist who groped two nurses, demonstrating "a pattern of indecent and inappropriate sexual behaviour", was struck off the dental register today.

Anthony Barton acted "inappropriately and unprofessionally" towards four nurses, and his behaviour towards three of them was "indecent", the General Dental Council ruled.

The married dentist repeatedly grabbed the bottom of one of his nurses, known to the tribunal as Miss D, and once touched her between her legs after she showed him a picture of herself in a fancy dress tutu.

The woman, aged 22 at the time of last year's attacks, said Barton told her she should wear a thong so he could properly feel her bottom and asked inappropriate questions.

Barton admitted having an affair with another of his nurses, who worked with him between 2002 and 2007. He said they had sex twice at the clinic in Wigan after hours and indulged in oral sex around 20 times.

He also admitted pulling down the waistband of his trousers to reveal a leopard print thong after a day's work but told the tribunal the underwear was meant as a joke after they had been discussing what he wore on the beach. However, the panel found his behaviour on surgery premises was unprofessional, inappropriate and indecent.

A third nurse, known as Miss A, claimed that while she worked for Barton between 2000 and 2002 he would regularly pull the back of her underwear as she bent over to fetch instruments.

He would also tug at her bra strap over her clothes and try to unclip it.

Barton propositioned a fourth nurse, Miss C, in the car park after a late shift, telling her: "You know where I am if you want a bit of fun." He said the comment was meant in jest. The panel said he had not been indecent towards Miss C but his behaviour had been inappropriate and unprofessional.

"You behaved inappropriately and unprofessionally towards four dental nurses who worked with you and your behaviour towards three of them was indecent," the tribunal chairman said. "The committee is determined that public protection and the wider public interest outweigh the interests of any registrant in a case such as this which demonstrates a pattern of indecent and inappropriate sexual behaviour."