Kate is wondering how to remind Vital readers of the registration deadline in a new, exciting fashion.

Are you a Facebook addict yet? If you're familiar with this web phenomenon, you will know that people can create ‘groups’ centred round a common interest or cause, and invite friends to join and discuss. A quick search on ‘dental nurse’ generated a list of groups including ‘I'm a dental nurse and I just can't mix a material standing up!’ (38 members) and ‘Dental nurses against registration’ (six members) but more encouragingly ‘Dental nurses rock’ (581 members).

Luckily it seems the latter sentiment is shared by dental nurses across the UK, as December saw registration figures shoot up to almost 20,000. If you have yet to send off your registration form, there's still time, so go to www.gdc-uk.org, telephone 0845 222 4141, or see the last few issues of Vital for more information. The deadline is 30 July 2008, by the way!

It is of course not only dental nurses who rock! This issue is a CDT (clinical dental technician) special. Like dental nurses, CDTs have begun registering with the GDC; read about the work this DCP group put in to get this far and about a dentist who has welcomed the change in CDT status with open arms (pages 34-37).

Vital aims to inform and entertain the whole dental team, which we hope is reflected in the variety of articles in each issue. However, you may notice that the advice section this spring is a little larger than usual. As compulsory CPD for DCPs comes into play we plan to provide as many articles as possible on the core CPD subjects, and others besides. Look out for more information on obtaining your CPD hours through Vital in the summer issue (14 June).

If there's something you would like to read about that you can't find in Vital, or if you would like to contribute – perhaps with a personal account like Cynthia Harper (page 30) – or share your views on the letters page, do get in touch. Vital is your magazine so help us to make it a VITAL read!

Kate Maynard, Editor k.maynard@nature.com