Will robots welcome patients into the dental practice in the future? They wouldn't need a facemask or goggles, and perhaps they could have integrated practice management software, immediate patient record recall, and a little flap in their middle section from which freshly brewed coffee and rounds of toast would gently eject for human members of staff...

I digress. That sounds quite good, but realistically, as Caroline Holland explores this January in our cover story, robots are unlikely to acquire the skills of critical thinking, decision-making, planning and 'above all, human empathy' that dental professionals possess. Furthermore, says Caroline, 'the dental nurse who is empowered to chat to patients about their treatment is irreplaceable'.

Look out for an article introducing us to artificial intelligence (AI) next month - it is 2022 after all!

Also kicking off a new year of BDJ Team, we look at the role of the dental team during the COVID-19 pandemic, and leadership behaviours of dental practice managers during the pandemic. James Green provides an informative update on Medical Device Regulations, and Rana Fard, an overview of the Mental Capacity Act - what DCPs need to know.

We have practical advice on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and marketing your practice. Recently graduated dental therapist Lauren Connolly shares her research into the link between oral health and erectile dysfunction. We also share a BDJ article in the subject area of head and neck cancer: jaw metastases and the GDP.

I am currently refreshing our reader panel, so if you would like to join, and can commit to writing a minimum of one article for BDJ Team on a DCP-relevant subject of your choice this year, I'd love to hear from you. Happy reading.

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Kate Quinlan

Editor

k.quinlan@nature.com