Photo: C. M. Maynard

Change is still in the air. Not just in the weather (we hope), but in the careers and workplaces of DCPs across the country. Registration of dental nurses and technicians continues apace, but the GDC's consultation on CPD for DCPs is drawing to a close. It is just a year until CPD becomes compulsory, so we asked a selection of dental team members to share their views on the subject (see page 14).

Issues of access, funding and time to attend courses are clearly at the forefront of DCPs' thoughts. How will dental nurses like Emma Lomas (page 26) fulfil the [proposed] 150 hours of CPD over the next five years? According to President-elect of the BADN Angie McBain, ‘Dental nurse educators need to come together as a whole’ and discuss how training, both to qualify and for CPD, can best be provided for registered DCPs.

It is not just the role of the dental nurse which is developing in dentistry. The dental practice manager has become the heart of many a flourishing practice in recent years, including the Liverpool Dental Spa, where our Vital Guide author in this issue reigns supreme (page 19). And dental technicians need no longer be exiled to the laboratory; they can now have an even greater impact on their patients' lives through studying maxillofacial technology (page 29).

So, it could be said that the image of the dental team is getting the spring clean it deserves. But is your surgery keeping up? Take a moment to consider the first impression a patient gains on entering your practice. You might not be short of patients – but how many of them are truly happy to step through the door? Paul Reilly talks aesthetics and contemporary reception design on page 36.

The 2006 readership survey was an excellent opportunity for me and my colleagues to gather some feedback on Vital. This issue not only demonstrates our accrued figures, but also the biggest letters section in our three and a half year history! As you will read from page 4 onwards, a letter printed in the last issue sparked some heated debate, and although absorbing to read, I reiterate my apologies to all those who took offence at this letter's inclusion. Perhaps the anonymous author in question could have done with reading this issue's On your feet before putting pen to paper.

Whether you're spring-cleaning, training, learning, managing, improving or just continuing to enjoy your hard-earned role in the dental team, do continue to get in touch with your views and ideas for prospective articles. A big thank you goes to everyone who willingly contributed to this issue after being handpicked from the questionnaire entries; there would be no Vital without you!

Kate Maynard, Editor, k.maynard@nature.com