Sir, your report of the Queen's Birthday Honours list (BDJ 2005; 199: 7) shows that all those honoured have worked in the field of Special Care Dentistry (SCD). With great help from the BDA librarians I have found that since 1992, of the 61 members of the dental profession honoured, eight were members of the British Society for Disability and Oral Health (BSDH) and two non-members — a high proportion.

All had to be nominated and then pass through the rigorous Whitehall sifting system. This amply illustrates the esteem in which those working in this field of dentistry are held outside of the dental profession.

Since 1994 those working in SCD have been trying to receive comparable appreciation within the dental profession through specialty status. This summer the GDC reviewed the evidence submitted by BSDH and other bodies, with the possibility that the profession will grant this status and recognise the special expertise required by clinicians in SCD.

In some ways lack of a SCD specialty could be regarded as discrimination against people with disabilities. It is to be hoped that this omission will be rectified later this year.