This year's October issue is sandwiched between our two special themed issues (September was DCP research and November focuses on dental nurses). And this sandwich filling is an eclectic one. To kick off, our cover story looks at whether loud noises in the dental surgery can induce hearing loss in dental professionals. Senior Lecturers and Year/Course Leads in Dental Therapy at the University of Central Lancashire, Sarah Duerden and Bev Littlemore, investigated whether hearing loss is increased in dental clinicians who use the high-speed handpiece compared to those who use other noise inducing dental equipment, such as ultrasonic instruments, mixing devices, high volume suction, compressors and model trimmers.

Our CPD article this month, originally published in the BDJ, looks at whether necrotising diseases and alcohol misuse are a cause of osteonecrosis.

Dental hygienist Yana Mooney explains the features and causes of tooth erosion and discusses preventative care for patients at risk.

Reader panellist and dental hygienist Laura Marshall does some blue-sky thinking, pondering 'what would you do if funding wasn't an issue?' She also shares ideas that her peers have come up with. Do share your own ideas on our Facebook page.

Also this month, I took it upon myself to re-type an archive article from the BDJ published in 1943 which came up in a list of the most important articles ever published in the Journal's 150-year history: The importance of surgery assistance and maintenance: a plea for the employment of the trained dental nurse. I was intrigued to learn more about the female author of this article - make sure you take a look.

The archive piece is a great precursor to this November's dental nurse issue. In our last issue this year we will look at examples of dental nurses all over the UK and abroad, with a range of experience and working in a variety of workplaces. We will reflect on the current 'dental nurse recruitment crisis'; the history of the dental nurse; career pathways and more.

Be sure to sign up for the BDJ Team e-alert so that you never miss an issue!

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Kate Quinlan

Editor

k.quinlan@nature.com