Sir, I am writing to inform readers about the current government e-petition set up by the Young Dentists Committee related to the shortfall in DF1/VT training places. This year, 35 UK trained dental graduates were left without a training post. For the considerable cost to the tax-payer that dental training incurs, as well as to individuals and their families, this is not an acceptable situation. Whilst there is an appreciation that money is tight within the public purse, it seems a great waste to be training dentists who are effectively then excluded from the postgraduate training required to work and practise within the NHS. It is also unacceptable for the dentists involved, who have proved their worth through five years of hard work, to be forced into finding alternative work. The inevitable de-skilling that is likely to occur for recent graduates who are not able to start a training programme is demoralising for those affected and should not be allowed to happen. The placing of those without a training place into junior house officer roles within dental schools is merely a short-term solution and halts the career and skill progression that is available to those training within general practice on a DF1 or VT scheme. I hope that all readers will agree that the lack of funding for DF1/VT places is unacceptable and will show their support by signing the Government e-petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40302

1. Young Dentists Committee member