Professor David Ricketts qualified at Guy’s Hospital Dental School, now GKT Kings College, in 1986. Following an Oral Surgery House Officer post and two years in general practice he returned to Guy’s Hospital to study for an MSc in conservative dentistry. During this period his main research interest in cariology and, in particular, its diagnosis and appropriate management began which led to the award of a PhD in 1995. David has since published widely in his research area and in other aspects of restorative dentistry and his research has led to collaboration with colleagues in numerous European countries and the USA. In 1999 David moved to Dundee and was promoted to Senior Lecturer / Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry in 2003. In 2006 he became Leader of the Section of Operative Dentistry, Fixed Prosthodontics and Endodontology at Dundee Dental School and in 2008 he was awarded a personal Chair in Cariology and Conservative Dentistry.