Dental witness seminars: dentistry in the UK since 1948.

Witness seminars attempt to get behind the scenes of advances and developments to find out what really happened at certain times; they are not intended to provide a detailed history of events. This paper presents highlights from the five John McLean Archive witness seminars, providing an instructional collection of memories and insights into the world of dentistry in the UK since the late 1940s. It is concluded that future change will be seen as a welcome constant to be used for the benefit of the profession and the patients and communities it serves.

A qualitative study of the role of dental therapy in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of the dental therapy profession in New Zealand, identifying the foundation of the profession, and the influences that have shaped its role. DESIGN: Qualitative study incorporating transcripts from oral archives, national questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with key people of influence among the oral health professions. METHODS: A selection of data was ordered into a written sequence and presented, to demonstrate key influencing factors in the introduction, training and work of New Zealand's dental nurses. RESULTS: Education for the dental therapy profession was preceded by the school dental nurse vocation and, despite the intention for the dental nurse's role to be one of 'forestalling disease' and 'prevention', the eventual role was very different. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides evidence of the valuable role of Dental Therapy in New Zealand's public health sector, but whether the role has been utilised most effectively is questionable, particularly when considering the original objectives that were given when the School Dental Nurse concept was first introduced.

La asistente dental en la Argentina / The dental assistant in Argentine

La asistente dental posee hoy variadas funciones, como colaboradora del odontólogo. En muchos países adelantados, se suma al equipo profesional la higienista dental, con una mayor participación técnica en variados pasos del trabajo en la boca. El Dr. Alfred Fones inició, en 1913, el primer curso especial para la higienista dental, denominación que él acuñó. En este trabajo se hace un estudio histórico de las diversas escuelas

La asistente dental en la Argentina / The dental assistant in Argentine

La asistente dental posee hoy variadas funciones, como colaboradora del odontólogo. En muchos países adelantados, se suma al equipo profesional la higienista dental, con una mayor participación técnica en variados pasos del trabajo en la boca. El Dr. Alfred Fones inició, en 1913, el primer curso especial para la higienista dental, denominación que él acuñó. En este trabajo se hace un estudio histórico de las diversas escuelas (AU)

[Fifty years of dental nurse education in Finland]. / Hammashoitajakoulutus 50 vuotta.

The first training-course for dental nurses was arranged by the Finnish Dental Association in 1947-1948. Professional help was needed in dental offices in assisting the dentists, taking care of the patients, particularly children, and in cleaning the equipment. As early as 1922 the Scandinavian Dental Association had pointed out that "clinic sisters" would be needed in dental training centers, but the suggestion was not put into effect. The first nine-month curriculum for dental nurses already included all disciplines of dentistry. Lectures in pharmacology, bacteriology and first-aid were also given. Practical training was arranged at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki. The students further trained for three-week periods both at dental clinics and at privat dental offices. Nine students completed the course and received their diplomas at the end of May, 1948.

[The fight over dentistry 1919-1924]. / Dentiststriden 1919-1924.

In the history of many professions there are periods of more or less pronounced borderline fights against other professions and/or charlatans. This article is about such an example from the profession of dentistry in Sweden. From the middle of the second decade of this century, there was an increasing discrepancy between the need for dental care and the too low number of dentists. Furthermore: the majority of the Swedish people could not afford dental care at all. In the public debate the concept "dental misery" was created. In 1919 a famous Swedish paediatric professor, Isak Jundell, presented a debate article in "Allmänna Svenska Läkartidningen" (Journal of the Swedish Medical Association), with a proposal for building up a corps of dental assistants with shorter training than dentists, but still with competence for tooth cleaning, extraction and some operative dentistry. The aim of the proposal was to give people easier available and cheaper dental care. The dental profession had been questioned and threatened and the reaction from the advocates of the dentists was immediate and intense. Now followed an almost five year long struggle, with the Swedish Dental Association on one side and parts of the medical profession, dental technicians, even some dentists and a number of politicians on the other. The controversy ended up in the Swedish Parliament in 1924 where many members in both the chambers had signed motions concerning authorisation of dental technicians. The dentists won the fight thanks to the resolution in the Parliament not to authorise the technicians. But still more important, from a social political point of view, was a statement from the Parliament with a commission to the Government to analyse the prerequisites for building up a Public Dental Health Service organisation in Sweden. After a series of committees this was finally a reality fourteen years later, in 1938, when the Parliament in a resolution initiated "folktandvården".

[The dental assistant in Argentina]. / La asistente dental en la Argentina.

The dental assistant helps the dentist in many different ways. In many countries, the dental hygienist gathers the professional staff, taking part in a larger technical way in different steps of work in the mouth. Dr. Alfred Fones started in 1913 the first. special course for "Dental Hygienist", being this title created by him. In this article there is a historic study of several schools.