Andrew Sadler – författare

At the time of the second world war and beyond, into the 1950s and 60s, dental health in Britain was appalling. Oral hygiene measures were not practised by much of the population and attendance at the dentist was usually only for relief of pain. In many cases treatment was limited to extractions and full dentures. Most of the population expected to have full dentures by the time they were 60 and many long before that.

The story of how this changed is herein told in the words of dental professionals recorded as part of the British Dental Association John McLean Archive between 2008 and 2023.

After the start of the National Health Service, ambitious dental surgeons expanded their role from dental extractions, minor mouth surgery and the treatment of jaw fractures with wires and dental appliances to comprehensive surgery of the mouth, face and jaws often in the face of sustained opposition from the established surgical specialties.

The result was the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery which was recognised by the wider surgical community and the regulator, the General Medical Council, in the 1990s.

This story of hard work, enterprise and achievement is told in the words of many of those who drove the changes and inspired others to improve techniques and outcomes for those suffering from injury, cancer, deformity and oral and dental disease.