The General Dental Council (GDC) has expressed extreme disappointment that yet again a Bill to reform professional regulation in the interests of patients and the public was not in the Queen’s Speech, despite widespread consensus that it is necessary. Whilst regrettable in many respects, this offers extended time for a fresh look at how to protect patients by designing a much more workable system of resolving complaints about dental professionals. The GDC has long campaigned for reforms to its very outdated legislation which stands in the way of providing sufficiently timely, proportionate resolution of complaints. This is to the disadvantage of patients and the public, but also to dental professionals. At a time of increased complaints across a number of healthcare sectors, many regulators, including the