Introduction
Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology in the UK is a Dental specialty overseen by the General Dental Council and Dental and Maxillofacial Radiologists must be registered on the specialist list in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology of the GDC. The award of the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) will require evidence of satisfactory completion of training in all aspects of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology which are outlined in this curriculum.
The curriculum takes as its guidance a number of documents including:
- The Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board's (PMETB) Standards for Curricula
- The PMETB's Principles for an Assessment System for Postgraduate Medical Training
- The Royal College of Radiologists, new Core and Special Interests curricula being prepared for submission to PMETB
- The Dental Gold Guide.
All examinations and assessments undertaken during training will be clearly linked to the content of the curriculum.
Entry requirements
Entry to a Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology training programme in the UK may follow the satisfactory completion of:
- a two year period of Foundation Training which may include a period of vocational training (VT), but should also include a period of training in secondary care in an appropriate cognate specialty
- the possession of the FDS, MFDS or MJDF of the UK Surgical Royal Colleges or an equivalent qualification
- candidates without FDS, MFDS or MJDF may be admitted to a programme but will normally be expected to possess an appropriate higher degree and/or to have had appropriate experience in dental and maxillofacial radiology or a related discipline.
Duration of training
The Royal College of Radiologists anticipates that four years would normally be required to satisfactorily complete the radiology curriculum to the required depth and breadth, as identified in Schedule 3 of the General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualification) Order 2003, and all provisional CCST dates should be set at four years (48 months) in the first instance.
The CCST in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology will be awarded on the recommendation of the local Postgraduate Dental Dean following:
- evidence of satisfactory completion of the Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology curriculum and the minimum training period
- satisfactory outcomes in the requisite number of workplace-based assessments (including multi-source feedback)
- Diploma in Dental Radiology of The Royal College of Radiologists (DDRRCR) by examination.
- acquisition of ACRP (Annual Review of Competency Progression) Appendix 5 (The Dental Gold Guide). The Royal College of Radiologists is developing an ARCP decision grid for each year of training for all radiology trainees for implementation in 2010 following approval by PMETB.)
Flexible training
'Less than full-time' is the term used to describe doctors and dentists undertaking training on a flexible basis, normally between five and eight sessions per week. The aim of flexible training is to provide opportunities for doctors and dentists in the NHS who are unable to work full time. Doctors and dentists can apply for flexible training if they can provide evidence that "training on a full-time basis would not be practicable for well-founded individual reasons".
Flexible trainees must accept two important principles outlined in European law (Directive 93/16/EEC):
- part-time training shall meet the same requirements (in depth and breadth) as full-time training
- the total duration and quality of part-time training of specialists must be not less than those of a full-time trainee. In other words, a part-time trainee will have to complete the minimum training time for their specialty pro rata.
For SpRs, the regulations governing flexible training are outlined in section 6.39 of The Dental Gold Guide.
Trainees must have their flexible training approved by the local Postgraduate Dean for less than full time Training before beginning their flexible training. The local Postgraduate Dental Dean may seek advice from the SAC with regard to the amended length of training.
Research
Some trainees may wish to spend a period of time in research, either before entering Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology training or as 'Out-of-Programme Research' (OoPR) after entering a training programme.
Research undertaken prior to entry to the training programme
Trainees who have undertaken a period of research that includes clinical work directly relevant to the Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology curriculum, prior to entering the training programme, can have a maximum of one year approved by the SAC towards their CCST. Such trainees should normally apply for approval of this period of research at the commencement of training. In accrediting any prior research towards the award of a CCST the outcomes achieved previously will be mapped across onto those stated in the curriculum. Following completion of at least six months (whole-time equivalent) of training the trainee's educational supervisor should assess their progress to determine the suitability of their previous period of research to be counted towards the CCST. Any period of research to be counted towards the CCST should be agreed by the Programme Director, who will make a recommendation to the SAC.
Research undertaken after entry to a dental radiology training programme
Trainees who have undertaken a period of research that includes clinical work directly relevant to the Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology curriculum, after entering the training programme, can have up to one year approved by the SAC towards their CCST.
It is recommended that trainees wishing to undertake research as OoPR do so after completing a minimum of 2 years of training and after successfully passing the DDR Part A examination.
Trainees must have their OoPR approved by their Postgraduate Dental Dean before beginning their research. The Postgraduate Dean may seek advice from the SAC with regard to the OoPR request.
Out of Programme Experience elsewhere in the UK or overseas
Some trainees who have been awarded an NTN may wish to spend a period of training in another UK or overseas Institution as OoPE after entering a Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology training programme. It is recommended that trainees wishing to undertake overseas training as OoPE do so after completing a minimum of 2 years of training and after successfully passing the DDR Part A examination. Normally, the experience to be gained in their OoPE programme will not be available in their own unit but is essential for the completion of training.
Trainees must have their OoPE overseas training approved by their Postgraduate Dental Dean before beginning their overseas training. The Postgraduate Dean may seek advice from the SAC with regard to the OoPE request.
Related clinical training
During their Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology training, some trainees may wish to spend a period of training in a related clinical specialty such as Oral Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Head and Neck Radiology or Oncology, etc. This is acceptable and should be undertaken as OoPE. However, such a period of training - although useful to the individual trainee in broadening their understanding of the relationship between dental radiology and the clinical specialties, - will not be approved by the SAC towards the requirements of the CCST. This training experience may lengthen the time taken to achieve a CCST.