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A History of Dentistry in Canada by D.W. Gullett (review)

The central theme of Dr Gullett's unusually balanced and well-organized narrative is the progress of Canadian dentistry from 'a motley crowd of expert technicians' into 'a profession of recognized academic standing.' As well as tracing the development of professional organizations, licensing laws, and dental education, he finds space to record changes in dental technology and therapeutics, the rise of public health dentistry, the contributions of individuals to the profession, and a host of minor themes ranging from dentists and the military to the development of professional journals. Whether writing about the dental problems of Indians and Eskimos or his profession's attitudes to socialized medicine, Dr Gullett is always knowledgeable, objective, and concise. The book is never unduly technical; the illustrations are an excellent supplement o the text; the bugles and chorus girls of quacks like Painless Parker provide useful comic relief. My only criticisms are that the book could be longer because the post-Confederation thrust towards professionalism is so intriguing and that Dr Gullett is overly self-effacing in telling us so little of his own distinguished contribution to the profession in the last thirty years. There is no space in a short review to comment on the many important insights this book offers for the study of the development of professional attitudes and organizations in Canada. We could say that like a well-built denture it offers much to chew on; or, seriously, that it is the most useful Canadian book we have on the history of professions and professionalism. The Canadian Dental Association is to be congratulated for subsidizing a publication which deserves a wide readership amongst those seriously interested in Canadian medical and social history. Aside from the book's many merits, anyone who has ever had a toothache on, say, election night, knows the relative importance of dentists and politicians.