The British Dental Association (BDA) has welcomed confirmation from COPDEND that every eligible UK graduate has secured a dental foundation training (DFT) place for the second year running.

The announcement covers DFT places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The BDA has campaigned hard on the issue, highlighting how the historic lack of places had hurt dental graduates, and represented a poor use of public money invested in training unsuccessful applicants.

Judith Husband, Chair of the BDA's Education, Ethics and the Dental Team Working Group, said: 'For the second year running every UK dental graduate has secured a training place. This makes sense, for the next generation of dentists and for the public purse. We shouldn't expect taxpayers to pick up the tab giving graduates skills they might never get the chance to use as young dentists.

'We were determined that last year would not be remembered as a “one-off”. This year's result is great news. Now we have to make sure it becomes a tradition.'