Sir, the recent research paper by Parrot, Lee and Markless (BDJ 2017; 222: 101–106) demonstrates yet again the need for, and special skills required to be, a clinical teacher in a dental outreach setting and the authors are to be congratulated on highlighting this issue.1

The essential requirement of being 'clinically competent' in a clinical teacher is clear to all parties. However, it is also clear from their paper that students think that a teacher's characteristic of being 'available, receptive and supportive' is of greater importance than the teachers themselves do.1 Our own research at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy (UPDA) indicates that students are empowered to be independent practitioners in an environment which treats them as colleagues to be supported, rather than simply recipients of the teachers' expertise.2 The need for clinical teachers to be aware of the difference between the academic teaching of the dental school and the realities of primary care/outreach teaching should form an essential part of the training and preparation for their role in outreach education.

However, we have previously highlighted the logistical difficulties and financial costs of providing such preparation and training for part time clinical teachers in an outreach setting.3,4 Part-time teachers frequently have other regular commitments, meaning not all teachers can attend on one training or induction day. The training then has to be repeated until all have attended. Time off from their teaching commitment for training involves the costs of providing staff cover. UPDA is exceptionally well supported by both its parent universities (University of Portsmouth and King's College London) but often time for comprehensive induction including rotations in the mother school or even shadowing for a period of time are currently not realistic.

If clinical teaching is to be increasingly provided in outreach settings by part-time committed experienced practitioners, and is to be high quality and as effective as possible, then these issues need to be considered carefully by Directors of Dental Education.