The Concept

This handbook which is now in its 11th year, was the brainchild of Richard Gorham, Postgraduate Adviser in General Dental Practice to the Wessex Vocational Training Scheme for newly qualified dental practitioners. The research and compilation was undertaken as a group project by the vocational trainees of 1988.

It has been updated and modified each year by the current trainees and has been well reviewed by the dental press. It is distributed to all new vocational training trainees who, I am sure, will find it a very useful introduction to post qualification practice in all branches of dentistry.

As a project it has brought together young practitioners into a team. They have learnt and gained a great deal out of undertaking the research necessary to put the information together in a coherent form and to come to decisions by consensus as to what to leave out. It has been deliberately produced in its present form so that it can be easily and cheaply updated.

The contents cover a wide range of subjects, from Essential steps on Qualification, Legal requirements, Health and Safety, NHS Structure, to advice on clinical matters and a list of useful addresses of major Dental Supply Companies and Organisations.

I am indebted to all those who have taken part in the production of what has become a most useful handbook on dental practice and am proud to be associated with its production.

We are very grateful to Schroder Finance Ltd, Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants Wright Health Group Ltd for their original sponsorship of this project and I am very heartened to see what a success it has been since its inception in 1988. The continuing support of the project by the Wessex vocational trainees to update and improve it is most appreciated.

R.T. Broadway

Previous Postgraduate Dental Dean

University of Southampton

December 1998