Sir, in response to the letter published in the BDJ in April titled Inevitable deskilling (BDJ 2012; 212: 303), we wish to challenge Mr Marlow's assumption that frequent referral of 'even the most straightforward of extractions' is likely due to shortcomings of the nation's dental schools.

We are current 3rd year students (first clinical year) at Newcastle University, School of Dental Science and we believe that our training in routine extractions is first class.

In our first year of hands-on dentistry we have already had four weeks of oral surgery attachments. This allows us to have an intense experience of purely dental extractions alongside excellent clinical supervision and ample nursing support. This has I believe given us tremendous experience in managing most extractions and even simple dento-alveolar surgery.

This initial experience is built on with further block allocations to the oral surgery clinics of four weeks in 4th year and three weeks in final year. Continual allocation to our dental emergency clinic means our skills are always being developed and refined. Our competence is assessed in molar extractions, root removal and surgical removal of teeth, and student evaluation of the oral surgery course is consistently excellent.

Whilst we cannot speak for other undergraduate courses we believe that our training at Newcastle provides us with competence and confidence to undertake routine extractions and moreover deal with simple dento-alveolar surgical procedures provided foundation dental training practices are appropriately equipped and the trainers are happy for surgical extractions to occur.

1. Newcastle