Sir, as a dentist and dental nurse who worked together for 30 years, we endorse the points raised by B. Dawett in his recent paper concerning DCPs and the importance of research in general dental practice.1 Some years ago we too were able to carry out a research project in our practice.2,3,4 We were then working in an NHS funded by fee-per-item, which allowed a flexibility of approach to finance not possible in today's target driven, contracted service. However, like Dawett, the benefits of the research project to us included a greater sense of team bonding and a widening of outlook beyond the narrow confines of general practice.

We, however, benefitted from the collaboration of academic researchers at the then London Hospital Dental School and the Royal College of Surgeons and this was of assistance in overcoming some of the barriers mentioned by Dawett. They had, for instance, an understanding and knowledge of the sources of funding for research and the regulatory processes for which compliance was necessary. They were also essential to the development of the research protocols.

If more research is to be carried out where the majority of dental care occurs, then we believe a collaborative approach between dental academia and general practitioners would allow the benefits described by Dawett to be available to more practices. In the longer term this can only be for the good of dentists, their teams and the care available to our patients.