Sir, the recent spring meeting of the Association of Basic Science Teachers in Dentistry (ABSTD) brought together oral biology teachers including professors emeritus and heads of school, module leads and lecturers involved in front-line teaching, and was themed around a conversation on the current status of oral biology teaching. Despite a diversity of opinion, each speaker, independently and in their own distinctive way, raised two concerns. Firstly, the loss of scientific rigor in many contemporary oral biology courses and secondly, the lack of engagement and low levels of curiosity amongst students often associated with this topic area. The causes are complex, but may involve shortage of faculty with appropriate expertise, increased competition for teaching time, the eclipsing of basic sciences by clinical topics in contemporary, integrated curricula and inadequate guidance in documentation from regulatory bodies.

Basic science, and oral biology in particular, provide a foundation for clinical studies. If lost, much of the understanding which underpins dentistry will be damaged which will, in turn, impact on the ability of new graduates to deal with complex situations, to respond to change and technical advance, and ultimately on the quality of dental care. Therefore, we must extend this conversation to the whole profession and campaign for a reassessment of the scientific rigor of many dental courses to ensure that the dental degree continues to retain its status as a widely respected, scientifically based professional qualification.

1. President, Association of Basic Science Teachers in Dentistry, Plymouth