Dear Editor,

Once again I am forced to write concerning the parlous state of affairs affecting the governance of dentistry in Jamaica. Our profession is small and is represented by fewer than 200 members in Jamaica, and hence has no real political or economic clout. Nevertheless, we have to try to make ourselves heard amidst the clamour, when we are faced with issues that impact not only ourselves but the public to whom we owe a moral responsibility.

Two weeks ago I wrote concerning the need to enact updated legislation to bring the governance of dentistry into the 21st century as the Dental Act, which now guides the profession, was gazetted way back in 1972. This 1972 Act gives the power to the Dental Council of Jamaica, when properly appointed and constituted, to appoint a registrar whose job and purpose it is to make a register of all the dental surgeons and also to make a roll of all the dental auxiliaries who have been properly vetted by the Dental Council; and it this registration or enrolment which gives these individuals the right to practise. It is the registrar who does all the leg work for the Dental Council.

The Dental Council has been without a registrar for many months. This has led to the delay in examinations for dental surgeons and auxiliaries as well as delays in hearing complaints levied against dentists by members of the public. Dental school graduates who completed their training in the Spring/Summer of 2011, for example, would have been unable to take exams and gain registration up to now.

Since 1972 the Dental Council has been ably represented by three registrars: Dr Coote, Dr Lawrence-Beckford and Dr Edwards. The tradition has been that the registrar should be a practising dentist who is familiar with the many nuances of the profession. While it is not a legal requirement for the registrar to be a dentist, it is hoped that someone from outside the profession would be chosen as registrar, only if no suitable candidate existed within the profession. The Jamaica Dental Association has submitted at least one candidate for the job as registrar, but to date we have not heard further on the matter.

The 1972 Dental Act also calls for a Tribunal to be appointed. The Tribunal is supposed to be a sort of Court of Appeal for cases handled by the Dental Council. To my knowledge, there is at least one case that should be before the Tribunal at this time. However, no Tribunal has been appointed since 2011.

So while we await a new Dental Act we feel it is important that at the very least the present Act be respected and observed. Unfortunately, we dentists feel that issues pertaining to dentistry are not being handled with the importance that they deserve. We are urging the minister of health to appoint the Tribunal, the Dental Council to appoint its lay members, and for the fully constituted council to appoint an appropriate registrar as soon as possible.

Jeffrey W Meeks, DDS

President Elect

Jamaica Dental Association

7 Upper Musgrave Ave

Kingston 10

drmeeks@gmail.com