The General Dental Council (GDC) is checking how much continuing professional development (CPD) dentists have completed. Dentists who first registered with the Council between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2001 (and were on the register at 31 December 2001) should now have met the GDC's CPD requirements. These dentists have until 8 March to let the GDC know the hours they have done in 2006, and to confirm their total for the whole five-year cycle.

The Council adds that in spring 2007 it will also select a random sample of this group and seek proof of the CPD they have completed over the previous five years. If a dentist has not completed the minimum 250 hour requirement, they face being removed from the GDC's registers, losing their right to practise in the UK. After the March deadline, the Council will get in touch with any dentists this applies to and explain the urgent steps they must take to avoid losing their registration.

Dentists who first registered with the Council in other years (apart from 2006), and are part-way through a CPD cycle, have also been sent CPD annual returns which are to be returned by March. For more information contact the GDC on 020 7887 3800, email gdcregistration@gdc-uk.org or visit the GDC website at www.gdc-uk.org/Current+registrant/CPD+requirements/.