Preparing for dental practice

  • F.J.T. Burke &
  • R. Freeman
UK: Oxford University Press price £24.95, pp269 ISBN 0198508646 | ISBN: 0-198-50864-6

The General Dental Council (2002) supports the need for a gradual and controlled transition from undergraduate training to unsupervised dental practice. Vocational training, immediately following graduation, is essential in providing the necessary support to make this transition successful.

The authors of this new text, supported by a group of knowledgeable and experienced contributors, address the challenge of achieving this successful transition. Its aim is to provide information for two partners in a successful transition — the senior dental undergraduate student and vocational general dental practitioner. Chapters cover the first job, building relationships with patients and other members of the dental team, providing high quality treatment and business principles for general practice.

Each individual chapter overflows with a further range of sub-topics. The chapter on providing high quality treatment has sections on treatment planning, promoting oral health, minimally invasive restorative techniques, caring for special needs patients, treating dental emergencies, referrals, evidence based dentistry and clinical governance.

Inevitably, some student readers might find the information overview provided rather general, perhaps offering little more than provided in their undergraduate curriculum, as is acknowledged by the authors. Others may question the balance between topics. Topics as diverse as smoking cessation support and clinical governance are all summarily described within one page, whilst the developing role of Primary Care Trusts in England are not mentioned.

Perhaps wisely, the authors have given 'the future' little space. Senior dental undergraduate students, on graduation, will enter an increasingly diverse dental care system. Changing patterns of oral and dental disease and the organisation of care to meet these needs are recognised as the drivers for this. As is inevitable with any textbook, it is very difficult to provide current information that reflects these changes and offers insights for new vocational trainees on addressing any potential stresses. The pace and scope of change will continue. It remains to be seen whether this text offers the holistic preparation needed by the vocational trainee for dental practice in the twenty-first century. This should include developing individual capabilities and social resources to make coherent sense of the challenges of future primary dental care practice.