Questions to be answered?

Not so long ago there was a time that we could proudly call ourselves a self-regulated profession. In those days the General Dental Council had a majority of dentists, 10 lay members and four Dental Care Professionals (DCPs). This has since evolved, so up to this year the structure had become a smaller council with a chair (no longer a president), 12 lay members, four DCPs and eight dentists. The GDC was also our sole regulatory body – responsible for the registers, maintaining standards, inspecting our centres of learning and carrying out discipline through fitness to practise. We still have some, albeit reduced voice in our own regulation.

To enhance our professional presence, we also have a chief dental officer for England, whose role carries considerable gravitas and is seen by politicians, the press and the public as the official voice of the dental profession. In fact the health department website states, 'The chief dental officer helps ensure that ministers, the department of health and wider government receives appropriate, timely, high quality and professional advice in respect of the practice of dentistry and the promotion of good oral health. In his role he provides advice and professional leadership to the dental profession.'