Sir, the dilemma you expressed in the December 2008 (issue 11) British Dental Journal (BDJ 2008; 205: 598–599) regarding the study on a possible relationship between dental and mental health led to a remarkable coincidence. The following day, after reading your note, I was researching a local paper (The Times of Malta, July 1936) on a different topic when I came across a half page article on dental and medical health. This was obviously an agency news item (probably Reuters) which dealt with a research study carried out at Birmingham University. It showed a correlation between mental and oral health and dental treatment (ie extractions) gave positive results. There was no mention of the persons carrying out the study nor the department concerned. I am afraid I cannot verify whether the recent study referred to the 1936 one but I felt it may be of interest to you.