As the team approach to dental practice has finally been formally acknowledged with the upcoming registration of the entire clinical team, the issue of dental education has taken on new meaning. In order to meet the inevitable increase in demand for training, teaching and learning, innovative approaches will be required and dental academia will be asked to respond. The educational needs can be viewed as a three dimensional problem, increased breadth across the dental team, vertical integration within and between specialties and the expansion longitudinally with lifelong learning and continuing professional development (CPD).