Extraordinary Letters to the Editor

Your recent editorial considers the intent by Edinburgh to abandon case presentation in its membership examination, without consultation with other concerned bodies. Edinburgh often seems a college chiefly interested in its own political and financial concerns, rather than the well-being of our specialty and patients.

In the 1960s, Edinburgh had no orthodontic diploma, but modified its fellowship exam to include a specialty section, thus encouraging anyone with an English DOrth to take an Edinburgh – rather than an English – fellowship. This move effectively emasculated our specialty politically at the English College for years.

Later, pressure grew to increase the length of orthodontic diploma courses. In 1973, Mills, and also Robertson, recommended a specialist training of 2 years and, in 1977, the Royal Dental Hospital introduced its 2-year MSc, which quickly became 3 years. In 1980, RCS England established its 2-year DOrth, which, in 1988, became the 3-year MOrth. In 1987, Edinburgh had launched its own 1-year diploma.