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Dentistry is not immune
THE
J-OU’RNAL
OF
SEPTEMBERoC%tER
VOLUME14 NUMBER5 EDITORIAL DENTISTRY
IS NOT
IMMUNE
HIS IS A crazy mixed-up world. There seems to be trouble or disagreement everywhere. To be convinced of this, just listen to any newscast on television or radio, or look at page one of any newspaper. Disharmony and conflict seem to be the keynote. Dentistry is not immune to trouble and disagreement. It is apparent in the conflicts arising from the Suwey of Dentistry, in the attitudes toward and between the specialties in dentistry, in the area of prepaid dental care, in the reaction to the activities of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Dental Laboratories, in the problems of financing dental education, in the problems relating to caring for the expanding population, in the fluoridation of community water supplies, and in the proper use of auxiliary personnel, to name just a few. Many of these problems are interrelated and it is time that all dentists look behind the disagreements and discord to find the answers. The dental profession should try to determine what it is that motivates the proponents of one side or the other on any question relating to dentistry. Once we have made this determination, we will be in a better position to recognize the good and the bad in each of the problems relating to dentistry. The dental profession is responsible for guiding the public to good dental health, This must always be its goal, for only when dentists are no longer needed will the ultimate objective of the dental profession be achieved. Differences of opinion must not prevent the dental profession from attempting to reach its objective. This applies to the philosophic and economic problems as well as to technical problems. 805
806
This issue contains a report of a IVorkshop which presents hot/z sidrs CJ~ three of the major problems faced by the profession. It is likely that not everyone will agree \vith the conclusions, but it can serve as a background for understanding some of the lx-oblems faced by the profession. l>entists are educated people. Therefore, they may be expected to face problems on the basis of sotmtl judgment rather than to decide by their emotions. No, dentistry is not immune to problems, but it has the ability to make sound jutlgments relating to these lxoblems. CARLO.B~~CHER
J-OU’RNAL
OF
SEPTEMBERoC%tER
VOLUME14 NUMBER5 EDITORIAL DENTISTRY
IS NOT
IMMUNE
HIS IS A crazy mixed-up world. There seems to be trouble or disagreement everywhere. To be convinced of this, just listen to any newscast on television or radio, or look at page one of any newspaper. Disharmony and conflict seem to be the keynote. Dentistry is not immune to trouble and disagreement. It is apparent in the conflicts arising from the Suwey of Dentistry, in the attitudes toward and between the specialties in dentistry, in the area of prepaid dental care, in the reaction to the activities of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Dental Laboratories, in the problems of financing dental education, in the problems relating to caring for the expanding population, in the fluoridation of community water supplies, and in the proper use of auxiliary personnel, to name just a few. Many of these problems are interrelated and it is time that all dentists look behind the disagreements and discord to find the answers. The dental profession should try to determine what it is that motivates the proponents of one side or the other on any question relating to dentistry. Once we have made this determination, we will be in a better position to recognize the good and the bad in each of the problems relating to dentistry. The dental profession is responsible for guiding the public to good dental health, This must always be its goal, for only when dentists are no longer needed will the ultimate objective of the dental profession be achieved. Differences of opinion must not prevent the dental profession from attempting to reach its objective. This applies to the philosophic and economic problems as well as to technical problems. 805
806
This issue contains a report of a IVorkshop which presents hot/z sidrs CJ~ three of the major problems faced by the profession. It is likely that not everyone will agree \vith the conclusions, but it can serve as a background for understanding some of the lx-oblems faced by the profession. l>entists are educated people. Therefore, they may be expected to face problems on the basis of sotmtl judgment rather than to decide by their emotions. No, dentistry is not immune to problems, but it has the ability to make sound jutlgments relating to these lxoblems. CARLO.B~~CHER