Vital was first brought to my attention when our Trainee Dental Nurse, Nathan Morrison, was involved and featured on the cover of the autumn 2004 issue.

I regularly read Vital and have subscribed from the early days. I am often asked questions by dental nurses (DNs) on evening courses regarding statutory registration. General dental practitioners do not seem to be clued up on this topic and where their unqualified DNs fit in. There has been some really good information on this topic in Vital. Registration is definitely a positive move in the right direction and is long overdue. I remember it being mentioned back in 1974!

Other articles in Vital have been interesting and useful as training resources. I am involved in the delivery of the NVQ Level 3 and National Examination for Dental Nurses and am pleased to see that both pathways to qualification are still up and running. Both methods should be advertised and individual DNs may then be given the opportunity to select the one that appeals to them or at least find out what is available in their area.

If you are a dental nurse and need more information on routes to registration and recognised courses, check out Registration revision on page 28.

Please SEND YOUR LETTERS, which may be edited for reasons of space, to:

The Editor, Vital Magazine, BDJ, Nature Publishing Group, 4-6 Crinan Street, London N1 9XW or email vitaleditorial@nature.com

Write to us for our winter 2006 issue and you could be the lucky winner of our Star Letter writer competition. You will then be the proud owner of a collection of the latest Colgate Oral Health Professional products (£100 RRP) courtesy of Colgate.