History of Department of Dental Hygiene

[From the 1958-1959 Hya Yaka/Yearbook]

History of Department of Dental Hygiene

At present, the dental profession not only expends efforts in the restoration of diseased and missing teeth but also in the education of the public concerning oral hygiene measures and prevention. The emphasis upon preventive dentistry andthe desire within the profession to provide more beneficial measures to the public have led to the need for auxiliary personnel. The dental hygienist is a recent addition to the dental health team.

There are proven preventive measures such as proper oral hygiene, sound dietary practices, topical application of fluorides, scaling and polishing of teeth, dental inspection and early referrals for treatment. In the practice of these preventive services the dentist can be assisted by the dental hygienist. Her services fit into the modern concept of dental care. The Canadian Dental Association adopted a resolution in May, 1955, recommending the employment of dental hygienists in this capacity.

In 1943 the Executive Committee of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario suggested that the curriculum of the dental school be revised to provide increased emphasis on preventive measures for control of dental diseases. The following year a brief was presented to the Board of Directors of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons which proposed a course of study for, and which defined the position of, the "dental hygienist" in the practice of dentistry. The matter of the advisability of training dental hygienists and of the desirablity of licensing such personnel in the Province of Ontario was referred to the Executive Comittee of the Royal College of Dental Surgeans [sic] for consideration.

The outcome was that a Special Dental Education Committee was appointed by the R.C.D.S. to review the curriciulum of the dental school. The report of this committee was considered by the Council of the Faculty of Dentistry. The report of the Council of the Faculty of Dentistry. The report of the Council concurred wiht the opinions of the committee. Among the reccomendations made concerning revision of the curriculum was one which advised that a course of dental hygienists be established in the Faculty. In 1948 a resolutiony [sic] was passed by the R.C.D.S. "that the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto ... be requested to establish a course for the training of dental hygienists ..." The Dentistry Act was amended, at this time providing the Board of the R.C.D.S. with the power to pass by-laws concerning establishment, development, regulation and control of dental hygienists.

Within the Faculty consideration was given to establishing a course for dental hygienists. A committee under Dr. G. T. Mitton gathered material relative to the course and contacted departments of the University which migh tcooperate in providing instruction in this course, subject to provision being made for financing it.

The W. K. Kellogg Foundation provided a grant of $34,800.00 over a three-year period to assist in establishing the course in dental hygiene.

Six students were registered in the first course in dental hygiene in September 1951. Miss Andree Herbert, R.N., B.Sc., D.H. (Columbia) was appointed supervisor and remained in this capacity until the spring of 1957. Miss B. Quinn, R.D.H. (Toronto) assisted her as a demonstrator in sessions 1955-56 and 1956-57, and was appointed supervisor when miss Herbert resigned. Mrs. I. Black, R.D.H. (Toronto) joined the staff at that time and in sesion [sic] 1958-59, Miss S. Baum, B.Sc.D.H. (Michigan) acceppted a position as demonstrator.

The course of study was set up in accordance with the specific requirements of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. In recent years, modifications have been made which integrate teh training of the dental hygienist more closely with the undergraduate dental student training. At present the dental student refers his patient to the dental hygiene student to perform the services which may be delegated to her in practice. In this way she becomes a member of the professional team. The members of the dental profession of the future learn what duties may be delegated to the dnetal hygienist in order to spend their time in the most beneficial way.

Due to limited physical accommodation enrollment in the course has been limited to ten women students in each of the two years of the course. Since the inception of the course seventy-two students from seven of the ten provinces in Canada have been accepted into the first year. A large number of the students have attended under the aid of bursaries provided by Provincial Health Departments, particularly those of Saskatchewan and of the Maritimes.

By the spring of 1958 forty-nice women had graduated from the course. Of this number, seventeen are now employed in public health programmes, eleven in dental offices and two in a teaching institution. Graduates have been employed in all provinces except Quebec.

The plan for the future is to train larger numbres of dental hygiene students. The new dental building will provide for fifty students in each class.

It has been intresting to see how in the years since 1943 Dental Hygiene has evolved in Canada. The dental profession recognized their inability to maintain the health of the oral structures by restorative measures alone. In the process of revision of the objectives of dental practice the use of auxiliary personnel was advised. The course in dental hygiene was established to educate women in the importance and use of preventive measures. The training in dental hygiene is becoming more closely integrated with the training of the dental student. The aim is that the dental hygienist will be recognized more widely as a valuable member of the dental health team.

[Mrs. Bernice Brown]