Dentistry in N.Z. still male dominated

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 5

Dentistry in N.Z. still male dominated

Maybe it has something to do with New Zealanders’ macho image of themselves. Maybe it harks back to the traditional concept of male dentists and female dental nurses in this country. Or maybe it is just plain ordinary chauvinism relating to the professions. Whatever the cause, it is a fact that dentistry in New Zealand is suffering from an acute shortage of women. Unlike places such as Sweden, Russia and Finland which have a dental profession comprised largely of women, New Zealand and other Western countries have clung to a maledominated group of dentists. Not that women have been completely excluded. From the earliest days in pioneering New Zealand, they have always had a token presence. The first dental association to be formed in New Zealand actually had a

woman member — Margaret Cato of Napier — and from that time on a few members have represented their sex. But, as for seeing them on the executive body ruling dentistry, occupying the professional chairs in the university or directing the scientific research, they are not plentiful. Certainly, we have had one or two in the research area and we have an associate professor in periodontics at the University of Otago, but no-one could call that a flood of female practitioners. Fortunately, though, things are changing slowly, and more young women have started to come forward as dental students in the last 10 or 12 years, so that the graduate classes of recent times have shown a much healthier blend of males and females. By the mid1980s it had reached about 50-50, dropping off

just a little during the last two or three years. When they do graduate, what can they expect in the way of employment? Up to the 1980 s it was difficult for a woman to start her own practice. The great majority of the public did not expect to be treated by a female when they came to the dentist. Many is the young female dental surgeon who has been asked by her patient whether she is a school dental nurse. Fortunately, a few of these women did have the courage to open their own practices, thus making it easier for those who followed them. Now, in most cities we will find a scattering of dental practices where not only the assistants are female but also the boss. One point that used to be held against female dentists was that they would not be strong enough when it came to extracting teeth. Contrary

to popular belief, the removal of teeth requires efficient technique, definitely not brute strength. The correct technique can be acquired equally well by persons of either sex. Anyway, in these days of prevention of dental disease and teeth for life, the extraction of permanent teeth is becoming fairly rare. The most difficult part of any dentist’s life is trying to persuade patients that their continued dental health depends largely on their own efforts in caring for their mouths day by day. Now, in the history of mankind, who has proven to be the more persuasive sex? Who is more likely to convince the person sitting in the chair that she/he has control of their own oral health? It is hoped that women will soon play a much larger part in the dental health of the nation.