Sir, I am responding to Written off (BDJ 2006; 201: 485) in my capacity as President of HIVdent. HIVdent is a not-for-profit web-based organisation located in the USA. It was established 10 years ago to collect and disseminate the latest evidenced-based research and information regarding HIV disease and oral health. The initial objective of HIVdent was to dispel fear through knowledge, in order to promote increased access to oral health care for people living with HIV disease, while positively impacting on healthcare policy decisions at the same time.

It was with tremendous disappointment and distress that I read that the UK's policy of eliminating clinical privileges for dentists who test HIV positive has not been updated to reflect today's advances in the medical management of HIV disease and dental infection control practices. Such an arcane policy does not represent the typically progressive nature of healthcare policy originating in the UK.

With the vast body of evidence accumulated since HIV/AIDS was first discovered, only one conclusion can be reached: it is time for UKAP to revisit and modernise their guidance to more accurately reflect today's epidemic.