Mandatory vocational training for the general dental services

Preparedness of dental graduates for foundation training: a qualitative study

“…The majority of new graduates in the UK have previously reported to be deficient in treatment planning skills. 26 A recent study highlights that although foundation trainees fulfil expectations of their trainers in planning simple treatments, they lack in communicating the treatment plans to their patients. 6 Given the departmental nature of clinical specialties in most UK dental schools, there is insufficient data to identify training and assessments of undergraduate students in treatment planning skills.…”

In their own words: investigating the preparedness of final year dental students in the UK for independent general dental practice

“…In the relatively limited number of historical studies investigating dental graduates' preparedness, there appeared to be a general perception by Dental Foundation Training Educational Supervisors (ESs) that undergraduate training has been 'diluted' and that new graduates entering their practices as FDs are not as capable practically as they once were (4,5,6).…”

Transition of new dental graduates into practice: a qualitative study

“…Formerly known as vocational training (VT), foundation training was initially started as a voluntary scheme for new dental graduates in UK as early as 1977. However, in 1993, a 1‐year period of training subsequently became a mandatory requirement for all newly qualified dental graduates in UK who intended to practice within the National Health Service . The GDC strongly endorsed this arrangement, which ‘allows a gradual and controlled transition from the shelter of undergraduate education to unsupervised practice’ .…”