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today Ontario Dental Meeting 07 May

AD exhibitors12 2015 ASM — May 7, 2015  The centennial of the beginning of World War I, which began on July 28, 1914, and lasted until Nov. 11, 1918, was commemorated last year. In turn, this year marks the centennial of the Canadian Army DentalCorps(CADC),todaytheRoyalCanadianDen- tal Corps (RCDC), which was formed shortly after recruiting efforts began in earnest for what would become known as “The Great War.” Initially, recruitment was at a slow pace; but, as it became evident that the conflict was escalat- ing more quickly than anticipated, the role of the recruiting offices expanded. At the same time, it became evident that many potential recruits were being rejected for dental reasons. As a result of these expanding dental needs, effortswereundertakentoinitiateadentalprogram to support the growing military commitment. In May 1915, the Canadian Army Dental Corps was established under the professional and adminis- trative control of the director of medical services.1 It grew from an initial corps of 30 dental officers, 35 non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and 40 privates to ultimately comprise 233 dental officers, 223 NCOs and 238 privates by the end of hostilities. Of those who served, 24 died in the war as a result of various injuries.2 The war itself, of course, was dev- astating, claiming more than 9 mil- lion lives, including 65,000 Canadian military casualties.3 Nov. 11 has been commemorated as Remembrance Day since 1931.4 As with the war in general, the for- mation and expansion of the Canadian Army Dental Corps was based not only on needs as they arose, but also on unexpecteddevelopments.Manyofthe changes that came into fruition were planned — while many others were altered as required by circumstance. CADC: ‘A very perfect dental or- ganization’ Intestamenttothevalidityandefficacy of the well-oiled machine the corps became, a consultant with the British Army, Sir Cuthbert Wallace, said at the war’s end: “The Canadians had a very perfect dental organization.” He also expressed the opinion that the British service might well copy the Canadians.5 At the onset of WWI, the intent was to attach dental officers to military medical units but, in practice, that did not occur. However, in August 1915, dental officers were permanently attached to field hospitals. In that capacity they served in Canada before embarkation to Europe and also served in Europe. They served in hospitals in the U.K., as well as at or near the front lines in France, Greece, Italy and Belgium.6 CADC personnel eventually per- formed a number of functions: •DentalinspectionsofallCanadian soldiers on arrival in England. •Dentalinspectionsofallreturning soldiers before embarking for Canada. • Provision of normal preventative dental care. • Treatment of wounds and trench mouth. •Careforreconstructionsurgeryin special clinics.6 In January 1947, the Canadian Army Dental Corps was redesignated the Royal Canadian Dental Corps. In 1968, as a result of what some considered an ill-conceived merger of the three servi- ces (Army, Air Force, Navy), the Royal Royal Canadian Dental Corps celebrates centennial RCDC represented with exhibit hall booth at the Ontario Dental Association 2015 Annual Spring Meeting  WWI Canadian dentist and pa- tients. (Photos/ Provided by the George Metcalf Archival Collec- tion, © Canadian War Museum) Here in Toronto LearnmoreabouttheRoyalCanadianDentalCorpsin the RCDC booth (No. 2250) in the exhibit hall.

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