Has your dental team posed with a smiley face prop or a gummy grimace recently? 2016 has seen the return of National Smile Month – celebrating its 40th year – and the launch of a new campaign from the British Society of Periodontology (BSP): #howsyoursmile, to raise awareness of gum disease in support of European Gum Health Awareness Day on 12 May. To find out more about both of these campaigns and to get involved yourself, see our news pages, and let us know what special events your practice has been involved with this season. We'd love to publish your photos on the BDJ Team website!

As the eyes are the ‘window to the soul’, the dental reception reflects the attitude of the whole dental practice – so says Mike Young in his cover story in this issue. Put yourself in a patient's shoes: what do they see when they first come through the door to your practice? Is the receptionist warm, welcoming and smiling, or is he or she chewing gum and busy ordering a new outfit for Saturday night? Learn about the importance of creating a good first impression with patients.

This issue also features a CPD article related to the GDC-recommended topic: oral cancer: early detection. This original BDJ paper looks at whether dentists or dental hygienists/therapists have more accurate detection skills and discusses the importance of adequate training for all members of the dental team.

Also for June, we meet dental therapist Maddy Johnson who mixed pizza, pasta, gelato and (possibly) swarthy Italians riding Vespas with learning how to diagnose and treat periodontal disease with microscopes and lasers. How much fun does that sound?

If you have had an exciting experience on the road to becoming qualified as a dental professional and think you might like to share it with DCPs across the land, I would love to hear from you.

Until next time, enjoy the sunshine and keep smiling!