How would a dental association be organised if it was invented today and not 100 years ago? That was the question which guided the development of the Dental Fusion Organisation, the new association which launched on 9 November. Its mission is to 'support and represent dental professionals working in primary dental care, improve oral health and provide social and clinical training for members'.

DFO will have no governing body; members will vote directly on every major issue through web and postal voting. If the members approve, one of the first campaigns will be to reverse the demise of the small independent family practice.

DFO Chief Executive Derek Watson said: 'In the age of the Internet, people are looking to source everything free of charge and yet they want an association that is very active, lobbies on their behalf and can give them advice when they need it. Dental Fusion has solved their problem by having its core functions funded by subscriptions, with over £1,000 of additional member benefits donated by suppliers using the “Freemium” model.'

Membership is open to all dental professionals and there is also a much tighter integration between the association and dental suppliers, hence 'fusion'.