Abstract

Aims To compare the views of new vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) and their trainers regarding how undergraduate dental education has prepared them for their vocational training (VT) in England. This study also aims to identify areas of relative weakness in dental undergraduate education that could influence the future training needs of vocational trainees.

Method Structured postal questionnaires were completed by VDPs and trainers from five Deaneries in England. The usable response rate was 71% (n = 186 VDPs and 186 trainers).

Results The vast majority of VDPs and trainers perceived the undergraduate training in history taking, diagnosis and treatment planning for general practice to have been covered 'well' or even 'very well'. Undergraduate training in routine restorative dentistry, oral pathology and paediatric dentistry was also perceived to have been covered well. However, a large proportion of VDPs and trainers reported that they felt that undergraduate training in orthodontics, molar endodontics, surgical endodontics and surgical extraction of teeth had not adequately prepared them for VT.

Conclusions Newly qualified dentists appear to lack certain competencies recommended by the General Dental Council in The First Five Years. This has implications for dental undergraduate education, but also highlights current training needs during VT.

1. SHO in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Pinderfields General Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 4DG;
2. Clinical Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry, Liverpool Dental School, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5PS
3. Postgraduate Dental Dean, Mersey Dental Deanery, Regatta Place, Brunswick Business Park, Summers Road, Liverpool, L3 4BL;
4. Professor of Restorative Dentistry, Liverpool Dental School, Unit of Restorative Dentistry, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L3 5PS

Correspondence to: C C Youngson⁴ e-mail: c.c.youngson@liverpool.ac.uk