Sir, I have just been reading through the GDC's Standards for dental professionals. The first standard states:

'Put patients' interests before your own or those of any colleague, organisation or business.'

Many dentists would believe that a course of night guard bleaching is more in the interest of a patient concerned about the colour of their teeth, than cutting precious tooth tissue to provide crowns or veneers. Unfortunately this choice could still lead to a six month prison sentence for any dentist that puts the interest of a patient over that of the Department of Trade and Industry. Surely it is time that this anomaly, demonstrating the difference between legality and ethics, was rectified?