Sir, as a dental technician and a maxillofacial technologist for 38 years but now a website developer I believe that registration with a regulatory body is absolutely essential for any health care worker, regardless of patient contact. I do, however, have my reservations of how the Government has not seen the need to put in place some sort of training sooner for clinical dental technicians (CDTs) or denturists as they are sometimes known.

The Nuffield Committee recommended the introduction of CDTs in the 1990s but little has been done to create a pathway to train technicians. Many dental professionals blame the GDC for the situation but this is a bit like 'shooting the messenger'. The GDC is not there to do anything other than protect the public, perhaps sometimes in a slightly misguided way, but they are only doing their jobs to the best of their ability. I have met with many GDC members over the years and have always found them to be professional and approachable.

I am delighted that there are now about 80 or so CDTs who have registered with the GDC but at what cost? I can't begin to imagine how much some of these qualified CDTs have spent on their education but we are talking circa £30,000 just to do the George Brown Course in Toronto, not to mention major subscription charges of certain associations and loss of earnings while travelling to Canada.

What I did not realise until recently but which has become very apparent is how many dentists also would like to see the introduction of CDTs. This is especially so with new techniques in implantology and cosmetic dentistry which in my opinion more suits dental clinicians than prosthodontics, although there will always be a few exceptions.