Welcome back to BDJ Team after our summer break! I am pleased to introduce our very first themed issue with the topic: infection control. If you're only just getting back to work, or feeling overwhelmed at all the new guidance issued for dental practices since the pandemic, we have a number of reader-friendly articles right here, such as Priya Sharma's All change please: 2020 in the dental practice.

BDJ author Laura Rollings introduces the dental team to the FFP3 mask fit testing process and Len D'Cruz provides a general overview of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) along with indemnity considerations. Have you been fit tested recently? I would be pleased to hear about your experiences - email .

In an exclusive for BDJ Team, Helen Nield from the BDA Library writes a snapshot history of infection control in dentistry. Did you know that in 1847, it was deduced that a high number of new mothers were dying of puerperal fever in one hospital in Hungary because doctors were going straight from performing autopsies to delivering babies? For the first time, doctors were told to wash their hands! How far we have come since then...

Our first CPD article for the autumn is The infected oral healthcare worker, adapted from the BDJ Book Infection control in primary dental care. This excerpt focuses on infections including HIV, Hep B and C, sharps injuries and appropriate sharps handling. We have also included a review of the whole book, in case you would like to read on this subject in greater depth.

Once you are back seeing patients face to face - or if you are having conversations with them over the phone - now would be a good time to read our article on Motivational interviewing: improving patients' oral health. I am thrilled that newly qualified dentist Leah Plummer offered to write this article for BDJ Team. Now more than ever, when it is more difficult to access dental care, patients need to be paying close attention to their oral hygiene regimes. I include myself in this (I have a mild obsession with flossing!).

As I write, I already have lots of exciting content planned for the remaining issues this year, but if you're interested in contributing, as ever, please drop me a line.

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Kate Quinlan

Editor