The need for continuing education is not confined to the general practitioner of dentistry. The specialist orthodontist generally welcomes new ideas but his isolation is even greater than that of the general practitioner. Facilities for refresher courses exist within the National Health Service and it is suggested that these should be of three types. Short symposia give an opportunity for the interchange of ideas between a large number of specialists. Courses of about one week's duration would involve limited numbers and might be either of a non-technical nature, concentrating on advances in orthodontic thought, or of a technical nature, teaching a new appliance.