The cover for this issue focuses on the dental world of 2008 when a significant development was the beginning of mandatory registration for dental care professionals (DCPs) with the General Dental Council. This had been a wish of the DCP groups for some years as it was seen as recognition of, and respect for, their professionalism.

The ‘featured' historic cover seen by the right hand of the person in this cover is a SEM, a source of images used from time to time as striking and as a literal representation of science as art; an ongoing connection. Published in Volume 204 Issue 3 on 9 February 2008, little did the world suspect that as the year developed, so would a financial crisis - the effects and ramifications of which still have echoes to this day.