 |
Official Launch of the Publication - History of Dentistry W A
Wednesday 16 September 2009
|
by His Excellency Dr Ken Michael, AC I am delighted to be here tonight for this event to mark the Centenary Year of the Australian Dental Association, Western Australian Branch with the launch of the book: “A History of Dentistry in Western Australia” by Dr John Yiannakis. It is a time to consider and celebrate the progress and achievements of dentistry in Western Australia – for the profession and for the families of this State. We all would have memories and stories of our own experiences with the dentist. I can still remember, as a young lad, going along Barrack Street in the city to visit the dentist – with trepidation I might add. I had no cause for concern – he performed his duties with great skill and, I would have to say, with what would appear to be, on reflection, somewhat limited equipment available at the time. And how technology and practices have come since then – state of the art teaching and research facilities, initiatives by Government in dental health, treatment and care, an active profession working with Government, Universities and its members to present dental services to a standard we may not have envisaged at the time I was have having the treatment some 60 years ago. Reflecting on history is important for us all for us to appreciate this even more. On occasions like this I inevitably stress the importance of history in reflecting on the past, to gain some understanding of the present and to gain some appreciation of what the future may and can bring. As Winston Churchill said – a quote I always like using: “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” We are indebted to Dr Yiannakis for presenting such a well researched, informative, readable and enjoyable history so that the record is clear and the future can be contemplated in perspective. We also acknowledge the work of Dr Brian Atkinson and his committee for providing the enthusiastic support, guidance and advice to Dr John Yiannakis. We have also heard from Dr Yiannakis in respect of others who have given him support. The Australian Dental Association WA Branch has ensured that there will be a record of past times, people and progress in dentistry within Western Australia. The year has been a busy one for Dr Yiannakis. I recently had the pleasure of launching his book “Odysseus in the Golden West”, a comprehensive and a most informative historical account of Greek migration, settlement and adaptation in Western Australia since 1947. Now, he has provided a comprehensive and thorough history of dentistry in Western Australia. It is, I understand, the culmination of three years of intensive research. As I read the book many familiar names and personalities came to the fore – in some instances common to both histories he has written. Prior to this publication there was only limited reference to dentists and dentistry in the history of this State, so sources for the book are primary printed records, photographs and through interviews. An important aspect of the book is that the developments in dentistry are set firmly in the context of the social, economic and political history of Western Australia. Dentistry in Western Australia has transformed over the past 100 years both in increasing respect of the profession and in technologies and levels of dental care that support it. Initially there were no dentists in the Colony that was to become Western Australia. In those early days, if you needed teeth repaired, removed or restructured your recourse may have been to use a chemist or medical practitioner or – as “folklore of Australian Dentistry” has it – perhaps a blacksmith or barber. It was said: “When there was no-one else, chemists and pharmacists had to do, but extracting teeth was not a favourite task”.(pg28) The number of dentists grew slowly and due to the nature of the treatment and the personalities involved, dentists in this State, at least in the minds of patients, achieved legendary status. Their names are now acknowledged for their “pioneering” role in our history. Dentists served throughout – from early colonial times, through depression and two World Wars – to the present day. The changing times and differing environments brought new sets of challenges for a profession that is and always was at the forefront in the prevention and alleviation of pain and suffering. The story of the WA Branch of the Australian Dental Association and the professional organisations that pre-dated it is told in this book. It shows how the profession developed over the years – the struggles and successes in its leading and contributory role in the development of courses of education, in practices and in the dental facilities to support them. The year 1927 saw the opening of the new Perth Dental Hospital, a defining moment in the history of dentistry in Western Australia. Then later, in 1946, the Senate of The University of Western Australia’s established the Faculty of Dentistry, with the first cohort of Dentistry students graduating in 1950. The Association continued its endeavours throughout this time, supporting and promoting new initiatives in dentistry for the benefit of the community and the profession itself. In this respect, and of particular interest, was the 8 point plan initiated in 1966, which Dr Brian Atkinson noted as: “… revolutionary: a real watermark in the history of dentistry … that took 60 to 70 years to come about”The plan included, amongst others, an emphasis on prevention and dental health services, fluoridation of reticulated water supplies, an emphasis on corrective orthodontics, the training of dental therapists, services in rural areas, and mobile service for remote areas. The formal training of dental nurses also has – and rightly so – some prominence. My immediate family links with the dental profession are strong. My wife Julie worked as a dental nurse and recalls many interesting times, such as in a Perth Dental Practice with the late Tom Goodall – a strong advocate of the fluoridation of reticulated water; in the Orthodontics Department of Guys Hospital in London; and at the Mt Henry School (or clinic) of Dental Therapy. And the link continues, with my son-in-law Andrew Kalafatas, who is an Orthodontist. More recently, the opening of the Oral Health Centre of Western Australia (as a joint UWA/State Government initiative) in 2002 was another landmark event in the history of dentistry in WA. The Centre offers state of the art techniques and facilities for dental students, dental hygiene and therapy students, and technicians and provides public dental service on a contract basis with the Health Department. The leadership shown by members of the association in their various capacities – past and present – and the altruism and dedicated service to the community highlighted in the book contributed to the advancement of better dental health for all the people of this State – children, the disadvantaged and those in rural and remote locations, particularly Indigenous people. However, some of these challenges remain. The history also touches on how some contentious issues have re-emerged from the past in recent times, such as dentists’ advertising, the role of dental technicians, therapists, and prosthetists. Today, dental health is promoted to a greater extent. There is a greater availability of treatment and technology and preventive dental care is more widely practiced. Technology has provided new opportunities and practices have been greatly enhanced – to quote Dr Yiannakis; “Today, as part of minimal invasive dentistry, various innovative techniques have taken the profession to new levels. Amongst these are digital cameras and radiographs, air abrasion technologies, laser surgery, and micro-dentistry, while implantology has developed into a highly specialised but increasingly common procedure.”(Page 278) It is in serving the needs of the Western Australian community that Australian Dental Association members have continued to meet the challenges they face and keep searching for innovative treatments and practices. The History of Dentistry in Western Australia is an outstanding publication. Each chapter is very well presented in terms with which we are all familiar and stories which add a human dimension to the history. The history book will be read and re-read by those in the dental profession, their families and students entering the profession. It also provides a very valuable reference for those in the wider Western Australian community – as a significant and important part of the history of this wonderful State. As Dr Yiannakis writes: “Dentistry in Western Australia is a success story at least one hundred years in the making.” Congratulations to the Australian Dental Association (WA Branch), The Australian Research Institute at Curtin University of Technology, the editor Professor Richard Nile and especially Author/Historian Dr John Yiannakis who has masterfully researched this history and reflected its impacts on the community, the profession and health care in our State’s development. It is a well documented history that will take its place in time as the beginning of the next 100 years in dentistry. It is now with great pleasure that I officially launch the publication by Dr John Yiannakis: A History of Dentistry in Western Australia |
 |
 |