Have We Learnt From History?
2010; Wiley; Volume: 55; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1834-7819.2010.01277_1.x
ISSN1834-7819
Autores Tópico(s)Dental Education, Practice, Research
ResumoAustralian Dental JournalVolume 55, Issue 4 p. 478-479 Free Access Have We Learnt From History? K PAUL LEE, K PAUL LEE South Perth, Western AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author K PAUL LEE, K PAUL LEE South Perth, Western AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 07 December 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2010.01277_1.xCitations: 1 Letters may comment on articles published in the Journal and should offer constructive criticism. When appropriate, comment on the letter is sought from the author. Letters to the Editor may also address any aspect of the profession, including education, new modes of practice and concepts of disease and its management. Letters should be brief (no more than two A4 pages). AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Professor Mark Bartold's Editorial, 'Personalized Dentistry'1 struck a chord with me. Professor Bartold said 'Communication, or rather lack of it, is one of the most common reasons for disputes between dental practitioners and their patients' and he also said 'In dental school we were taught "how to" but often not "why so'". The word 'communication' in the Editorial immediately caught my attention because a letter of mine titled 'Dentist–Patient Relations' was published in 1991.2 If I may, I would like to quote part of that letter: 'It was encouraging to read the letters from Jocelyn Doust, Stephen Dunstone, WR Hume and MV Morgan on dentist–patient relations (Aust Dent J 1991;36:66-67). It is good to know that at long last dentistry is looking beyond the stage of just being plain tooth carpentry. 'In October 1965, Professor RT Martin of the School of Applied Psychology, University of New South Wales, published a report "An Exploratory Investigation of the Dentist–Patient Relation". In my opinion that was one of the most significant reports I had the privilege of reading a quarter of a century ago! The report concluded as follows, ''What stands out as the irrefutable conclusion of this study is that the nature of the relation between the dentist and his patient is crucial for the effective performance of dentistry, and for the advancement of dental health education in the community. Equally clear is the conclusion that, in general, this relation leaves a great deal to be desired and that because of the present state of this relation, a number of undesirable conditions have arisen in dental health education. The acceptance of the services of the dental profession are thus far below the standard the profession has every reason to expect''.' It does appear that the dental profession has not taken notice of Professor Martin's report and that is why it is now necessary to run DPL workshops on this very topic of communication. Dr Burton Conrod (FDI President) said the public perceives dentistry as a trade rather than a profession.3 In 2005, dentists ranked fifth from the top in the list of 15 ethical and honest professions, a position which they held for quite a few years. However, in 2008, a survey showed dentists now ranked fourth from the bottom out of the 15 professions. Dentists are now just above scientists, childcare providers and locksmiths. Dr Tony Poli as President of the ADA (WA Branch), in his article 'Ethics and Professionalism' said, 'It is expected that we take responsibility for our actions and we are not governed by the pursuit of money'.4 In an advertisement by a practice management company, a dentist was asked 'What was the greatest change you found after attending the seminar on practice management?'. He replied, 'I found my case acceptance went through the roof'. Is this type of seminar only relevant to a certain type of practice? The reply was, 'Yes. It's only relevant to people who want to make more money working less hours'. That says it all. It is disturbing that attending such practice management seminars can acquire CPD points. The points 'how to' and 'why so' raised by Professor Bartold have always been close to my heart. I gave a lecture titled 'The Rationale of Orthodontic Treatment', i.e., 'why' orthodontics, at the ADA Congress held in Brisbane in 1985. In 2004 I gave a lecture titled 'The "Why" rather than the "How" in Dentistry' at the meeting of the Multidisciplinary Dental Academy held in Queensland, and it so happened that Professor Bartold was the Chairman of that meeting. The development of a strong social conscience within all of the health profession is a critical need for the future. Professor Frederic Wood Jones, Adelaide Medical School, stated, 'Every thinking person must realize the appalling disaster that has come about by a widespread familiarity with the advances of physical discovery that have completely outrun our efforts to develop any science of life. I fancy we must admit that we are possibly making contributions to the madness of a mad world, by turning out men replete with technical knowledge, but hopelessly ignorant of the ethical and humanitarian implications of the science of living'. This quotation is from an address delivered in 1937 by Professor Wood Jones. Have we progressed? Always look back before going forward and recognize where you came from, as bushwalkers are taught, so as not to get lost. Dentistry used to be a health care profession but it is now a trade probably because for not looking back. The theme for the next ADA Congress is 'Back to the Future: Now and Tomorrow'. Let's hope dentistry can make a turnaround and start to become a health care profession again. 'Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.' (Albert Einstein). In other words, keep asking WHY! References 1 Bartold PM. Personalized dentistry. Aust Dent J 2010; 55: 111. Wiley Online LibraryWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2 Lee P. Dentist-patient relations. Aust Dent J 1991; 36: 245. CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 3 Australian Dental Association Inc. News Bulletin. December 2008, p 4. Google Scholar 4 Australian Dental Association (WA Branch). Western Articulator. June 2009, p 4. Google Scholar Citing Literature Volume55, Issue4December 2010Pages 478-479 ReferencesRelatedInformation
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