- Email: [email protected]
Dentistry as a profession
Dentistry as a profession Vernon S. Johnson, DD S, Houston I The
question
co n fro ntin g
many
young ind ividu als of to day is w hat to ch o ose fo r th eir life ’s w ork. Selecting a c a re er th at w ill u tilize th eir own ab ilities and inclin ation s and also be of th e g reatest service to th eir coun try is usually not a sim ple problem . In d ee d , th e question is a w eighty one, fo r upon the an sw er depends m uch of th e happiness to be found in life and th e happiness of others. Th e se young peo ple like to be w here th in g s are m oving, w h e re im m ense ch an g es are in view , and w h e re they them selves can help bring about th ese im provem ents; and have im ag inatio n en o ug h th e fu tu re of th e ir w ork progress to w ard it m ight
those w ho to see into and m ake well inves
tig a te and d ecid e to m ake dentistry th e ir profession. It is a w ork of ser vice to th e peo ple and to th eir co u n try w h e re b y general health can be im p ro ved, and thus g rea ter h ap pi ness can be b ro ug h t to all. T h e m ost com m on diseases of m ankind are those occurring in the teeth and th e ir surrounding bone and soft tissues. Constant care is necessary if th ese diseases are to be preven ted , co n tro lled , and cured. T h e pub lic is com ing to understand w hat good dental care m eans to th em , and th e ir interest in it is in creasing. T h e dental profession must carry on this h um an e w ork of preven tion and healing so th at people in all w alks of life may be fre e from pain and loss of health b ecau se of bad
te e th . It is a g reat task to u ndertake, but if ideals are kept high and above rep ro ach , it can be d on e success fu lly and thus a great service can be d o n e fo r o u r nation. O n e hears much these days about m a in te n a n c e of health and preven tio n of disease. T h e schools are d o ing m uch to ed u ca te th e children and parents in th e need fo r care of th e tee th . T h e d en tist plays a large part in this since many give freely and un selfishly of th e ir tim e to lectu re and b ring ab o u t a b etter kn o w led g e of w h a t is needed to preserve teeth and h ealth . M an y p eo p le visit th e dentist p erio d ica lly and th ro ug h his fre q u en t ex am in atio n s and instructions on care of th e teeth, he helps his patients to m aintain th e ir teeth and gingiva in sound co n dition . P rid e is justly d u e th e dentist fo r his service to ch ild ren. Dental disease in ch ild ren often continues th ro u g h o u t life; th erefo re, w hen this is co n tro lled durin g child h oo d these fu tu re citizen s have a b etter ch an ce fo r th e health and happiness they deserve. T h ro u g h th e co rrectio n of m alaligned tee th , th e dentist brings joy to m any a youth w ho w ould o therw ise go th ro u g h life w ith an unsightly facial ap p earan ce. T h e physician and the dentist are m utually en g ag ed in phases of health service to th e p eo p le of th e ir co m m unities. It is necessary at tim es fo r th ese tw o professionals to w ork to g e th e r fo r th e p ro p e r treatm en t of
patients. An invaluable service is giv en to patients by th e d en tist w ho is ab le to d etec t signs of ca n c er in th e m outh o r of diseases in o th e r parts of th e body. W hen these are in evi d en ce , he advises th e p atien t to co n sult a physician. Thus th e dentist and th e physician guard health on tw o fronts. M an y p ub lic health d ep artm en ts have found th at dentists are indis pen sable to w ell-d ev elo p e d health plans. Dentists o ften serve on boards of p u b lic health, and m any p ub lic health p ro gram s now p ro vide fo r ce r tain types of den tal service fo r all g ro up s of peo ple. In this w ork d e n tists and physicians co o p e ra te in plann ing and caring fo r th e health problem s of persons in th e co m m u n ity, state, and nation. M any dentists e n g ag e in such ac tivities as tea ch in g in dental schools, carrying on research in d en tally re lated problem s, and serving on state boards of d en tal exam in ers. It may be noted th at dentists have m any things to do in caring fo r patients and car rying on th e ir profession in such a w ay as to im p ro ve th eir service and m aintain it on a level of w hich they can be proud. Dentistry as a profession requires men w ith special q ualificatio ns. T h e den tist must possess a fin e charac ter, professional co m p ete n c e, and integrity. C o n stru ctive ab ility, both im ag inative and p rac tic al, is a nec essary req u irem en t. In all of th e d e n
OPINION CLEARINGHOUSE / JADA, Vol. 93, O ctober 1976 ■ 699
tis t’s w o rk, th e d etails m ust be ex ecuted w ith fin e precision. G ood, artistic sense is essential, fo r his w o rk m ust satisfy th e requirem ents of beauty. An interest in scien ce is im p o rtan t if his is to be th e m eans of any progress in th e profession. C er tain so cial q ualities are necessary fo r success, such as a pleasing per sonality, th e ab ility to establish frien d ly relation s w ith people, in spire c o n fid en ce , and to have sym pathy fo r o thers. M ost im p o rtan t of all, he m ust have an honest purpose. T h e d en tist should be am on g the most tru stw o rth y of all m en. T h e pa tien t co m m its him self to th e care of
700 ■ OPINION CLEARINGHOUSE
I JADA,
th e dentist, and it is th e im p licit duty of th e d en tist to en su re th at th at trust is not m isplaced. H onesty, w hich is bred of unselfishness, is th e d e n tis t’s g reatest asset. P u blic esteem , one of th e most cherished rew ards of a pro fessional m an, is au to m atica lly sac rificed if he b reaks faith w ith his p a tients. T h e dentists pictured herein are now and will co n tin u e to be am ong th e leaders in o u r co u ntry th ro ug h th e ir part in th e co m m un ity e n te r prises, professional societies, and th e ir untiring service fo r th e b etter m ent of health. These m e n ’s services are am on g th e m ost useful in th e
Vol. 93, O ctober 1976
com m un ity. T o a larg e exten t, the den tal profession must b e credited w ith exten din g th e span of life and increasing th e vig o r of th o u san d s of p eo p le w ho have en tru sted th em selves to co m p ete n t dentists. Dentistry, w ith its leaders of today and to m o rro w , has a long w ay to go to reach p erfectio n , and th e unsolved p ro blem s in th e field are a constant ch allen g e to th e alert and intelligent m em bers of th e dental profession.
Dr. Johnson, past president of th e Academ y of General Dentistry, is a general practitioner. His address is 9 15 Bank of the S outhw est Bldg, Houston, 77002.
question
co n fro ntin g
many
young ind ividu als of to day is w hat to ch o ose fo r th eir life ’s w ork. Selecting a c a re er th at w ill u tilize th eir own ab ilities and inclin ation s and also be of th e g reatest service to th eir coun try is usually not a sim ple problem . In d ee d , th e question is a w eighty one, fo r upon the an sw er depends m uch of th e happiness to be found in life and th e happiness of others. Th e se young peo ple like to be w here th in g s are m oving, w h e re im m ense ch an g es are in view , and w h e re they them selves can help bring about th ese im provem ents; and have im ag inatio n en o ug h th e fu tu re of th e ir w ork progress to w ard it m ight
those w ho to see into and m ake well inves
tig a te and d ecid e to m ake dentistry th e ir profession. It is a w ork of ser vice to th e peo ple and to th eir co u n try w h e re b y general health can be im p ro ved, and thus g rea ter h ap pi ness can be b ro ug h t to all. T h e m ost com m on diseases of m ankind are those occurring in the teeth and th e ir surrounding bone and soft tissues. Constant care is necessary if th ese diseases are to be preven ted , co n tro lled , and cured. T h e pub lic is com ing to understand w hat good dental care m eans to th em , and th e ir interest in it is in creasing. T h e dental profession must carry on this h um an e w ork of preven tion and healing so th at people in all w alks of life may be fre e from pain and loss of health b ecau se of bad
te e th . It is a g reat task to u ndertake, but if ideals are kept high and above rep ro ach , it can be d on e success fu lly and thus a great service can be d o n e fo r o u r nation. O n e hears much these days about m a in te n a n c e of health and preven tio n of disease. T h e schools are d o ing m uch to ed u ca te th e children and parents in th e need fo r care of th e tee th . T h e d en tist plays a large part in this since many give freely and un selfishly of th e ir tim e to lectu re and b ring ab o u t a b etter kn o w led g e of w h a t is needed to preserve teeth and h ealth . M an y p eo p le visit th e dentist p erio d ica lly and th ro ug h his fre q u en t ex am in atio n s and instructions on care of th e teeth, he helps his patients to m aintain th e ir teeth and gingiva in sound co n dition . P rid e is justly d u e th e dentist fo r his service to ch ild ren. Dental disease in ch ild ren often continues th ro u g h o u t life; th erefo re, w hen this is co n tro lled durin g child h oo d these fu tu re citizen s have a b etter ch an ce fo r th e health and happiness they deserve. T h ro u g h th e co rrectio n of m alaligned tee th , th e dentist brings joy to m any a youth w ho w ould o therw ise go th ro u g h life w ith an unsightly facial ap p earan ce. T h e physician and the dentist are m utually en g ag ed in phases of health service to th e p eo p le of th e ir co m m unities. It is necessary at tim es fo r th ese tw o professionals to w ork to g e th e r fo r th e p ro p e r treatm en t of
patients. An invaluable service is giv en to patients by th e d en tist w ho is ab le to d etec t signs of ca n c er in th e m outh o r of diseases in o th e r parts of th e body. W hen these are in evi d en ce , he advises th e p atien t to co n sult a physician. Thus th e dentist and th e physician guard health on tw o fronts. M an y p ub lic health d ep artm en ts have found th at dentists are indis pen sable to w ell-d ev elo p e d health plans. Dentists o ften serve on boards of p u b lic health, and m any p ub lic health p ro gram s now p ro vide fo r ce r tain types of den tal service fo r all g ro up s of peo ple. In this w ork d e n tists and physicians co o p e ra te in plann ing and caring fo r th e health problem s of persons in th e co m m u n ity, state, and nation. M any dentists e n g ag e in such ac tivities as tea ch in g in dental schools, carrying on research in d en tally re lated problem s, and serving on state boards of d en tal exam in ers. It may be noted th at dentists have m any things to do in caring fo r patients and car rying on th e ir profession in such a w ay as to im p ro ve th eir service and m aintain it on a level of w hich they can be proud. Dentistry as a profession requires men w ith special q ualificatio ns. T h e den tist must possess a fin e charac ter, professional co m p ete n c e, and integrity. C o n stru ctive ab ility, both im ag inative and p rac tic al, is a nec essary req u irem en t. In all of th e d e n
OPINION CLEARINGHOUSE / JADA, Vol. 93, O ctober 1976 ■ 699
tis t’s w o rk, th e d etails m ust be ex ecuted w ith fin e precision. G ood, artistic sense is essential, fo r his w o rk m ust satisfy th e requirem ents of beauty. An interest in scien ce is im p o rtan t if his is to be th e m eans of any progress in th e profession. C er tain so cial q ualities are necessary fo r success, such as a pleasing per sonality, th e ab ility to establish frien d ly relation s w ith people, in spire c o n fid en ce , and to have sym pathy fo r o thers. M ost im p o rtan t of all, he m ust have an honest purpose. T h e d en tist should be am on g the most tru stw o rth y of all m en. T h e pa tien t co m m its him self to th e care of
700 ■ OPINION CLEARINGHOUSE
I JADA,
th e dentist, and it is th e im p licit duty of th e d en tist to en su re th at th at trust is not m isplaced. H onesty, w hich is bred of unselfishness, is th e d e n tis t’s g reatest asset. P u blic esteem , one of th e most cherished rew ards of a pro fessional m an, is au to m atica lly sac rificed if he b reaks faith w ith his p a tients. T h e dentists pictured herein are now and will co n tin u e to be am ong th e leaders in o u r co u ntry th ro ug h th e ir part in th e co m m un ity e n te r prises, professional societies, and th e ir untiring service fo r th e b etter m ent of health. These m e n ’s services are am on g th e m ost useful in th e
Vol. 93, O ctober 1976
com m un ity. T o a larg e exten t, the den tal profession must b e credited w ith exten din g th e span of life and increasing th e vig o r of th o u san d s of p eo p le w ho have en tru sted th em selves to co m p ete n t dentists. Dentistry, w ith its leaders of today and to m o rro w , has a long w ay to go to reach p erfectio n , and th e unsolved p ro blem s in th e field are a constant ch allen g e to th e alert and intelligent m em bers of th e dental profession.
Dr. Johnson, past president of th e Academ y of General Dentistry, is a general practitioner. His address is 9 15 Bank of the S outhw est Bldg, Houston, 77002.