Sir, you have published two reactions1,2 to my letter on updating postnominals3 which, amongst other things, allude to a 'threat of GDC action'1and express concerns about hard-earned qualifications being 'dumped'.2 Neither is the case.

As emphasised in College of General Dentistry guidance and stated in my letter:3

'Postnominals relating to diplomas awarded by FGDP(UK) and the Royal College of Surgeons of England (Dip MFGDP(UK), Dip FFGDP(UK), Dip MJDF, DGDP(RCS Eng), Dip MGDS(RCS Eng), Dip ImpDent(RCS Eng) and Dip RestDent (RCS Eng) were not (NB, NOT) affected by the transfer of FGDP(UK) into CGDent.'

For clarification, where this may be needed, it is a matter of personal responsibility that dental professionals take care to use the appropriate forms of postnominals. Among other things, this entails being aware of which postnominals indicate an educational attainment (and can therefore be used, where relevant, in perpetuity), and those which indicate membership of a professional body (which can only be used while the individual remains a member or the professional body continues to exist). In other words, there are different categories of postnominals, including educational attainment postnominals and membership postnominals. Educational postnominals may be used after an individual leaves membership of the awarding body, or the body, as is the case for FGDP(UK), no longer exists. If an individual holds a diploma of an awarding body and remains a member of that organisation in good standing, custom and practice is that only the relevant membership postnominals are used, ie, when FGDP(UK) existed Fellows of the Faculty, for example, didn't use both Dip FFGDP(UK) and FFGDP(UK), just FFGDP(UK). As FGDP(UK) no longer exists these individuals may now use Dip FFGDP(UK) - the educational postnominals, rather than FFGDP(UK) - the membership postnominals.

As a professional standard setting body, CGDent, amongst its other roles and functions, should encourage proper understanding and implementation of appropriate standards of professional behaviour. As such, the CGDent guidance on postnominals is there to help members of the College understand the use and appropriate form of FGDP(UK), RCS Eng related, and CGDent postnominals. The guidance is simply guidance, not a position statement in the College's favour, let alone 'a way which encourages membership'.1

The use of postnominals is a form of advertising. To use membership postnominals which no longer apply could mislead patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals. This is why I referred to possible contravention of GDC rules on advertising in the original letter.3

Colleagues, who understood my original letter,3 have welcomed their attention being drawn to the College guidance on FGDP(UK), RCS Eng related and CGDent postnominals, together with the additional information provided. I hope this response to the two reactions to my letter corrects any other misunderstandings and allays any more unfounded concerns.