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 pie.
“mite dentistry and the 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 inspec-
tion 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 Col-
lege of Dental Surgeons of Ontario suggested that the cur-
riculum of the dental school be revised to provide increased
emphasis on preventive measures for control of dental dis-
eases. The following year a brief was presented to the
Board of Directors of the Royal College of Dental Sur-
geons which proposed a course of study for, and which
defined the position of, the “dental hygienist” in the prac-
tice of dentistry. The matter of the advisability of train-
ing dental hygienists and of the desirability of licensing
such personnel in the Province of Ontario was referred to
the Executive Committee of the Royal College of Dental
Surgeans for consideration.

The outcome was that a Special Dental Education
Committee was appointed by the R.C.D.S. to review the
curriculum of the dental school.‘ The report of this com-
mittee was considered by the Council of the Faculty of
Dentistry. The report of the Council concurred with the
Opinions of the committee. Among the recommendations
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 was passed by the
R.C.DS. "that the Faculty of Dentistry, University of To-
ronto . . . be requested to establish a course for the train-
ing of dental hygienists . . . " The Dentistry Act was
amended, at this time providing the Board of the RCDS
with the power to pass by-laws concerning establishment,
development, regulation and control of dental hygienists.

, Within the Faculty consideration was given to estab-
lishing a course for dental hygienists. A committee under
DR G. T. Mitton gathered material relative to the coins?!
and contacted departments of the University which mlgg“
Cooperate in providing instruction in this course. In the
spring of 1951 the Faculty Council and the Senate of the
University approved establishment of the 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 Septembu 1951. Miss Andree Hebert,
R.N., B.Sc., D.H. (Columbia) was appointed supervisor
and remained in this capacity until the spring of 1957.
Miss B. Quinn, RDH. (Toronto) assisted her as a dem-
onstrator in sessions 1955-56 and 1956-57, and was ap-
pointed supervisor when Miss Haber: resigned. Mrs. 1.
Black, rum. (Toronto) joined me ma at that time,
and in seslon 195859, Miss S. Baum, B.Sc.DH. (Machi-
gan) accepted 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 the training of the dental hygienist more
closely with the undergraduate dental student training. At
present the dental student refers his patients 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 dental 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 severity-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 Depart-
ments, particularly those of Saskatchewan and of the Mari-
times.

By the spring of 1958 forty-nine women had grad-
uated 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 numbers
of dental hygiene students. The new dental building will
provide for fifty students in each class.

It has been interesting 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 it valu-
able member of the dental health team.

Page 13