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EDITORIALS The now and future image ■ ■ T h e r e are reasons for optimism: signs are everywhere and we believe we are reading them correctly. The image o f dentistry is bright—the public’s idea o f the dentist, the public’s idea of the profession, and the dentist’s idea of the pro fession and himself. We read this in opinion polls, in letters, in news items, and in official actions of the Association. We see the dentist being proud of the image of healer and determined to overcome the image of hurter. The 1973 H ouse o f Delegates passed a resolution aimed at erasing the historical image o f pain merchant. The dentist insists on being a full-fledged member of the health team—the healing team. It is evident that the dentist is proud of himself even though there isn’t a dentist counterpart to Marcus Welby on television. Many dentists want such a program for dentistry, not just to have a popular television program about a dentist but to create a “ weil-informed . . . and more re ceptive” public. One dentist writes and urges the A D A to spend his dues (and the dues of others) to retain “ the best advertising agency on Madison A ve nue to enlighten the nation about the dental pro fession and the problems w e face; to upgrade our collective image; to inform the nation that there is a wide gulf between the doctor of dentistry and a therapist; to encourage the 50% of the popula tion not seeking regular dental treatment to give it a try; and to inform everyone— including pol iticians—that w e most assuredly do not consider
ourselves a second-rate profession.” These are determined and proud words. A recently released public opinion poll of bluecollar workers places the dentist very high in matters of truthfulness, competence, and altru ism. N ew s item after news item shows the dentist as a person in v o lv e d . Volunteer work is the rule rather than the exception in civic affairs, in clin ics, in hospitals, in domestic and foreign pro grams to bring dental care to those who don’t have it. A letter from a patient tells us o f kindness and comfort given by a dentist “ in this day and age when most” people do only “ what is required to be done.” The recent dental graduate is more acutely aware of his responsibility to total oral health than was the preceding generation, and the ac tive and responsive dental student will carry the idea of more service, more healing, more pre vention into the next generation. The dentist wants the respect of his patients and the general public—he cares. A letter tells us of a dentist who often sits in the dental chair ‘‘and looks around so he can get the patient’s view of things.” G ood signs, all. And back to Marcus W elby’s counterpart: the wife o f a dentist tells us she’s sure such a pro gram would be a success— and her husband should be cast in the title role. With pride like that the future is bright!
New in this issue . . . ■ ■ ¡T w o new services for readers make their debut in this first 1974 issue o f t h e j o u r n a l . The first is a special insert than can be removed and filed: Guidelines on Disposition of Prac tices, Estate Planning, and Funeral Arrange ments— with Estate Planning Data Worksheets. This section, which begins on page 37, was pre pared by the Bureau of Dental Society Services to help the dentist make preliminary plans that will eventually benefit his family and his pa tients. N ot intended as a substitute for the pro fessional services of an attorney, the assistance o f the component society, or whatever technical help may be needed, the guidelines have one main purpose—to alert every dentist to the need
for thoughtful planning and to help him get start ed. The other innovation in this issue is an alpha betical listing, by trade or generic name, of den tal materials, devices, and therapeutic agents that have been evaluated by the Council on D en tal Materials and D evices or the Council on Dental Therapeutics and certified or classified. This alphabetical listing, which begins on page 231, will enable the dentist to check quickly any of the thousand products evaluated by the Coun cils. This section can also be removed and filed. We believe these two sections are important services to t h e j o u r n a l readers. We hope you will let us know your reactions.
ourselves a second-rate profession.” These are determined and proud words. A recently released public opinion poll of bluecollar workers places the dentist very high in matters of truthfulness, competence, and altru ism. N ew s item after news item shows the dentist as a person in v o lv e d . Volunteer work is the rule rather than the exception in civic affairs, in clin ics, in hospitals, in domestic and foreign pro grams to bring dental care to those who don’t have it. A letter from a patient tells us o f kindness and comfort given by a dentist “ in this day and age when most” people do only “ what is required to be done.” The recent dental graduate is more acutely aware of his responsibility to total oral health than was the preceding generation, and the ac tive and responsive dental student will carry the idea of more service, more healing, more pre vention into the next generation. The dentist wants the respect of his patients and the general public—he cares. A letter tells us of a dentist who often sits in the dental chair ‘‘and looks around so he can get the patient’s view of things.” G ood signs, all. And back to Marcus W elby’s counterpart: the wife o f a dentist tells us she’s sure such a pro gram would be a success— and her husband should be cast in the title role. With pride like that the future is bright!
New in this issue . . . ■ ■ ¡T w o new services for readers make their debut in this first 1974 issue o f t h e j o u r n a l . The first is a special insert than can be removed and filed: Guidelines on Disposition of Prac tices, Estate Planning, and Funeral Arrange ments— with Estate Planning Data Worksheets. This section, which begins on page 37, was pre pared by the Bureau of Dental Society Services to help the dentist make preliminary plans that will eventually benefit his family and his pa tients. N ot intended as a substitute for the pro fessional services of an attorney, the assistance o f the component society, or whatever technical help may be needed, the guidelines have one main purpose—to alert every dentist to the need
for thoughtful planning and to help him get start ed. The other innovation in this issue is an alpha betical listing, by trade or generic name, of den tal materials, devices, and therapeutic agents that have been evaluated by the Council on D en tal Materials and D evices or the Council on Dental Therapeutics and certified or classified. This alphabetical listing, which begins on page 231, will enable the dentist to check quickly any of the thousand products evaluated by the Coun cils. This section can also be removed and filed. We believe these two sections are important services to t h e j o u r n a l readers. We hope you will let us know your reactions.