Use of Auxiliary Personnel in Dental Care Programs

Abstract

A T the annual meeting of the Committee on Administrative Practice of the American Public Health Association, held October 9, 1943, the Subcommittee on Medical Care was directed to draft a set of principles expressing the desirable content of a comprehensive program of medical care, the methods of its administration, and the part which public health agencies should take in its operation. The report eventually, by action of the Association on October 4, 1944, became an official statement of the A.P.H.A.1The study was considered but one sector of a comprehensive national health program, namely, medical care. The report states, under recommendation VI "Training and Distribution of Service,

A survey of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of oral health technicians in public primary health care teams in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…However, in the auxiliary oral health professions, we could not say that there is a process of feminization, since it has always been a feminine profession, almost everywhere. In 1910, Alfred Fones developed the first training programme for young women, whom he called ‘dental hygienists’ [ 16 , 17 ]. From that time onwards, the profession has included mainly females due to historical and cultural reasons relative to the work organization and the devaluation of the profession itself [ 15 ].…”

Exploring professionalization among Brazilian oral health technicians

“…Knowing that he would not be able to conduct all the necessary procedures, he trained his assistant to perform such tasks. Based on this experience, the first training program for young women, whom he called “dental hygienists”, was established at the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in 1910 [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…In the United States of America, dental auxiliaries began to work with dentists in the 20 th century [ 21 ]. In 1907, a Law in the state of Connecticut formalized the occupation of the dental hygienist as an assistant to the dentist.…”

Problems of Business Administration

“…Walls (71) reported that children are still not favored in securing dental appointments. Since the ratio of dentists to population is decreas- ing, he suggests the use of chair assistants to increase the service of the dentist.…”