Introduction

Sir, logic, from its Greek origin, is defined as the art and science of reasoning; a chain of reasoning, a correct or incorrect use of argument.

Govern, from its Latin root, is defined variously as to rule with authority over a state or people or to sway, direct, influence or be in command of a state or people.

It would be fair to assume that a government acts on a logical basis because if its logicality was in doubt the chances of re-election would be slim, discounting all other factors. It may well be that the logic is disguised from outward view and a more acceptable face needs to be displayed to the public being governed. This is the task of the 'spin doctors'; to make the unpalatable acceptable.

Having made this leap of faith, ie that government is based on reasoning, which is scarcely borne out by history, it has to be assumed that the training programmes which are under way in dentistry are conceived to a plan. What can that plan be?

Let us look at what educational programmes are going forward.

There are expanded training programmes for therapists whose duties are slowly widening. There are plans to broaden the activities of dental nurses enabling them legally to perform more dental tasks and there are larger intakes in most dental schools and two new schools starting up. In a few years; in 2010, home trained graduates and overseas graduates will combine to enlarge the dental workforce so that there will be more qualified dentists in Britain than ever before, and more therapists than ever before. In England and Wales the government's stated aim is to 'simplify' the treatment provided under the NHS which will tend to provide more work for therapists and will leave the dentists with less and less to do.

Will we reach the stage where the NHS employs therapists to do the 'simpler' courses of treatment which will be the lion's share of that provided and a few dentists to supervise the triage process? Most 'complex' treatment will be carried out by those with added skills who will work largely in the private sector with an absolute minimum within the NHS to deal with the unexpectedly complex case.

Add to this the limitations of a finite budget which will restrict the number of contracts available and logic dictates that there will be considerable unemployment of dentists. Reason also tells us that there will be immense pressure on private fees as competition for survival will create a market almost akin to the supermarket economy. But how will patients judge quality? That is a vexed question which is hard to answer at this time.

Is this the grand master plan?

Well, if government is a logic-based process the only conclusion one can draw is that this is the plan to subdue the profession. Control, it seems, is the order of the day.

The profession needs to smell the coffee and make plans accordingly.