Sir, on the cusp of retirement I would like to reflect on two of the changes in dentistry over the last 40 years, using the issue of the BDJ (Volume 214 No. 1, 12 January 2013) as an aide memoire.

My entering general dental practice in 1973 and starting as a single handed practitioner consisted of automatically obtaining a Family Practitioner Committee number and setting up practice in a Grade II listed town house with a brass plate outside. This contrasts today with Dr J. R. Mackay's lament in Letters to the Editor of his 'non-job' (BDJ 2013; 214: 6) trying to comply with the plethora of bodies regulating the practice of dentistry. Forty years ago my job description was dental surgeon; today my job title is performer and provider of primary dental care for the local PCT, lead in child protection, lead for cross-infection control, radiological protection supervisor, health and safety supervisor, fire warden, lead for information governance, lead for staff training, and environmental cleaning operative. I have probably left a few out. As a single handed practitioner I would not be able to carry these duties out unless I saw patients part-time, therefore reducing my income. Furthermore, I would now not be able to afford the installation, maintenance and certification of complex and sometimes unreliable items of equipment seemingly necessary such as vacuum autoclaves, washer-disinfectors and computerised records.

The second major change is highlighted in your current journal under Product News: End of an era for historic practices (BDJ 2013; 214: 37). The majority of dental practices 40 years ago were set up in former private residences in town centres which now, because of the incompatibility of the Disability Discrimination Act and HTM 01-05 with listed building consent, conservation area consent and planning permission are deemed no longer fit for purpose and will soon be unviable.

Both these changes may be seen as progress, but put together with the retirement of dentists who were of the baby boomer generation, this can only contribute to the demise of the single handed practitioner who once formed the majority provider of primary dental care in the UK. Farewell!

1. Hove