Sir, we write with reference to your recent BDJ in Practice article entitled 'How does dentistry move from survival to revival?1

We are disappointed with both the tone and content of this article, particularly with reference to those which pertain to our Association. The objective, third-party reader may view this as a thinly veiled attempt to discredit the BAPD.

We also note that you directly refer to the Chair of our Scientific Committee, Dr Dominic O'Hooley, within a rather dismissive paragraph where we feel that you clearly intimate the lack of validity of a referenced opinion piece, within your own opinion piece. Surely, the irony of this has not escaped you?

Furthermore, you make unreferenced assertions and disparaging comments regarding a BAPD international fallow time comparison table: we would however draw your attention to the fact that Professor Jan Clarkson, mentioned within your article as a lead author of 'Aerosol Generating Procedures and their Mitigation in International Dental Guidance Documents - A Rapid Review', published on 24 July 2020 by the CoDER Working Group, liaised with both Dominic O'Hooley and Tif Qureshi from the BAPD, who provided assistance regarding the very international protocols that ended up within the aforementioned document. You may therefore wish to revisit the document to read the formal thank you to the BAPD and perhaps revise your opinion.

In the spirit generated within your opinion piece of highlighting factual inaccuracies, we feel it is pertinent to note the following:

  • Your 10 August 2020 piece refers to healthcare workers registered with the GDC not being required to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival back in the UK. This is factually incorrect as the exemption was removed on 31 July 2020 for those arriving back in the UK on that date or after, this being clearly set out on the Government website at the time of writing this reply2

  • You omit the BDA's role in the call to cease face to face dentistry. On 22 March 2020, the BDA wrote to its members and advised them that practices should 'cease routine dentistry and operate an advice and emergency service only', and that, 'dentists involved in urgent care will require full personal protective equipment including FFP3 masks'.3 After numerous posts on social media obviously and quite reasonably interpreting this statement as meaning that practices needed to close prior to direction from the CDO, the statement was then revised on the public website to correctly say, 'dentists involved in urgent care in specialist centres will require full personal protective equipment including FFP3 masks'.4

In closing, we would expect an unreserved apology to the BAPD within the editorial of the next BDJ in Practice, copied to both your Twitter and Facebook accounts, regarding your regrettable attempt to discredit the BAPD within your article.