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John Vivian Bingay OBE (1899-1973) and the New Cross School for Dental Auxiliaries

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

  • In the 1920s and 1930s, there was much dental disease and public dental services were badly needed.

  • 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.

  • 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

  1. 1. Webster K. Obituary: John Vivian Bingay OBELDS. Br Dent J 1973; 134: 211.

  2. Poulter N M. The Public Dental Officers Group. In Cohen R A (ed) The Advance of the Dental Profession: A Centenary History. pp 140-144. London: British Dental Association, 1979.

  3. Poulter N M. Chaos to Community. The Public Dental Officers Group 1926-1974. Privately printed, 1974.

  4. Saunders J L. The New Zealand School Dental Service: Its Initiation and Development 1920-1960. Wellington: PE Owen Government Printer, 1964.

  5. Ministry of Health, Department of Health for Scotland, Ministry of Education. New Zealand School Dental Nurses. Report of United Kingdom Dental Mission. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1950.

  6. Munday B. Personal communication. 19 April 2022.

  7. J Lyall. 'But for New Cross, dentistry would be the poorer'. Vital 2008; 6: 14-15.

  8. Munday B. Personal communication. 13 March 2022.

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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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Correspondence to Stanley Gelbier.

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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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