Sir, I would like to comment on the BDJ editorial (BDJ 2007; 203: 289) written by Professor Jonathan Shepherd, who is also Vice Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons (Eng). In the editorial, Professor Shepherd commented on the development of primary dental care, saying whether it has emerged as a distinctive entity characterised by a unique body of scientific knowledge applied in practice. Professor Shepherd also drew comparisons between primary dental care and primary medical care in academic foundations, saying the former was insecure.

I would like to point out that primary dental care is unequivocally a distinctive entity. Practitioners in primary dental care are able to undertake courses and programmes that are relevant to their practice and practise. Not only are these courses and programmes well researched and evidence-based with relevance to primary dental care, but they also provide opportunities for dental surgeons to share knowledge, understanding and most importantly, best practice. I do agree with Professor Shepherd that universities are an important source for research, but they are not the only source. Many practitioners in primary dental care would argue that university research is not applicable to their work when compared to other more invaluable sources that may be more pertinent to primary dental care.

I was confused as to why Professor Shepherd drew academic comparisons between primary dental care and primary medical care, which are both distinctive and separate entities. It was incorrect to compare the two, since each setting provides its own type of service in an environment to patients that have different needs. Primary dental care may be less academic than primary medical care, since the former is more practically oriented in its approach to patient care. Professor Shepherd professed to this by saying that the overlap between primary and secondary dental care is much less defined than it is in medicine.

Finally, the editorial by Professor Shepherd illustrated bias. As Vice Dean of Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons (Eng), Professor Shepherd took every opportunity to promote the importance of the Faculty to the role that is performed by primary dental care practitioners. He must understand there are many postgraduate education providers of varying sizes that provide better teaching and training, producing more relevant and more successful outcomes than the career pathways set out by the Faculty.