Abstract
It is easy to forget some of the people who helped to develop the dental care services. One person who should be remembered is Jack Bingay. He was a towering figure in the public dental services from just before to well after World War II. Jack was the first Director of the School for Dental Auxiliaries.
Key points
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In the 1920s and 1930s, there was much dental disease and public dental services were badly needed.
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With the rise of salaried services, dentists needed organisations to protect their interests. One was the British Dental Association's Public Dental Officers Group, which campaigned for a Dental Whitley Council.
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With the coming of the NHS, an already depleted school dental service lost personnel. There was a need for other clinicians. Dental auxiliaries (later therapists) were introduced against the wishes of the profession. The School for Dental Auxiliaries was opened in South London, with Jack Bingay as its director.
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References
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Munday B. Personal communication. 19 April 2022.
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Munday B. Personal communication. 13 March 2022.
Acknowledgements
Helen Nield, Head of BDA Library and Knowledge Services, kindly located some information. Polly Munday gathered together the thoughts of some of her early fellow-students. The late Don Norman took and supplied the photograph.
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Gelbier, S. John Vivian Bingay OBE (1899-1973) and the New Cross School for Dental Auxiliaries. Br Dent J 234, 54–56 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5402-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-5402-4
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