Where There Is No Dentist is a book about what people can do for themselves and each other to care for their gums and teeth. It is written for:

• village and neighborhood health workers who want to learn more about dental care as part of a complete community-based approach to health;
  

• school teachers, mothers, fathers, and anyone concerned with encouraging dental health in their children and their community; and
  

• those dentists and dental technicians who are looking for ways to share their skills, to help people become more self-reliant at lower cost.
  

Just as wlth the rest of health care, there IS a strong need to 'deprofessionalize dentistry-to provlde ordinary people and community workers with more skllls to prevent and cure problems In the mouth After all, early care IS what makes the dentist's work unnecessary-and this is the care that each person glves to his or her own teeth, or what a mother does to protect her children's teeth.

We have learned that villagers with little formal education often can learn skills with their hands-such as tooth extractions or surgery-much faster than university students (who have never learned to use their hands for much more than pushing pencils). We also have observed that the best way to learn dentistry is not through school but through practice, helping someone with more experience who is willing to teach.

Where There 1s No Dentist has 2 parts:

The first part (Chapters 1-5) discusses teaching and learning about preventive care. It begins by encouraging the health worker to examine herself and her family. To be a good example is the best way to teach.

The second part (Chapters 6-11) talks about diagnosing and treating common dental problems. It is especially for those who live where they cannot reach or afford a dentist. A poor neighborhood in the city can be as distant and neglected as a far-off village. This second part is intended mainly for health workers who have helped organize people to meet their own needs.

Murray Dickson-a Canadian with primary care experience in Northern Canada, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, and Mozambique-has written this book in clear, simple language. He takes care to use popular names instead of unfamiliar scientific words. For example, instead of speaking of 'dental plaque' the author speaks of the 'coating of germs on the teeth,' Such simple language does not weaken the message. The message is stronger because everyone understands.

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