The professionalisation of dentistry in Britain: A study of occupational strategies, 1900-1957

Abstract

This thesis traces the development of an independent dental profession in the first half of 20th century Britain. First, the relevant sociological literature is reviewed and the framework of the empirical study that forms the core of the thesis is spelled out. Then the campaign for the prohibition of unregistered practice of dentistry which culminated in the passing of the Dentists Act,1921 is analysed. The organisation of oral care services at the end of the 19th century is sketched out and the efforts of dental practitioners to form viable and credible professional associations, to change their legal status and to expand and stabilise the market for their services are described.

The second half of the thesis is devoted to the 1921-1956 period which ended with the adoption of the Dentists Act,1956 which gave dentists self-regulatory powers. This Act forms the framework within which dentistry is practised in Britain today.The main issue under scrutiny in this period is how dental practitioners endeavoured to protect the occupational monopoly granted to them in 1921. As with the study of the pre-1921 period, three areas of concern---professional organisation, legislative action and the control of the market for dentists' services---provide the framework of the analysis. Successive chapters are devoted to the long and difficult process of achieving unity of organisation among dentists; to the numerous attempts to amend the Dentists Act, 1921 to strengthen the profession's control of its area of work; and to the profession's struggle against attempts by the state and others to modify the system of providing oral care services, particularly by introducing new categories of dental personnel.

A concluding chapter examines the issues of why dentists chose to engage in the pursuit of professional status and why their collective occupational strategies were on the whole successful.