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Volume1 Issue3
I
ssues and
P
eople
CDA:
What are someof theunansweredquestions inyourfieldof
research?
MM:
How to improveaccess tocare for theone-thirdofCanadians
whocannot realisticallyaccess the full benefitsof our excellentden-
tal services? Inmyview, that isunacceptable ina societyasaffluent
and sophisticatedasours.
I think that theotherbigproblemwemismanage is caries,which
continues to severelydamage the teeth inabout 70% to80%of the
population.We stillmanage it asa surgical and restorativeproblem,
although theevidence isquiteclear that thisdoes little tocontrol
or stop it. Evenour terminology reflects thismismanagement—we
refer to “secondarycaries” as if itwasadistinctdisease rather thana
failureofpast treatment.
CDA:
What shouldwedoabout caries?
MM:
Caries isasmuch—if notmore—abehavioural problemas it
isabacterial problem. Asamanagementproblem, it ismoreclosely
associatedwithobesity thanbacteria.However,wedon’t spend
nearlyenough timeondietaryandnutritional concernswhenwe
see teethdissolving in thecomplicatedenvironmentof sugarsand
bacteria. The rejectionof apublichealthfluoridepolicy inmunici-
palitiesacross thecountry sadly reflectsourprofessional inability to
displace thedominant surgical–restorativemodel for caries control.
The implicationof this failure forourprofessional image isnotgood.
Wemust join theotherprofessions incombating the sugar industry
aswedid tocombat the tobacco industry. This, I believe, isoneof
themajorpublichealthchallengesof thenext 20years.
CDA:
What candentistsdo to improveaccess tocare?
MM:
Get involvedwithothermembersof thehealthcare team. If
wewant toenhanceaccess tocare,we shouldnot remain isolated
in thedental office. Physicians, nurses, andmanyothershave found
aneffective rolebeyond the limitsof theprivateoffice, andwe too
can follow their lead. There is room formoredentists incommunity
clinicsandnotonlyasvolunteers.
a
...about the
CanadianLongitudinal StudyonAging (CLSA)
?
This is a large, national, long-term study thatwill follow
approximately50,000menandwomenbetween theagesof
45and85 for at least 20years. Itsgoal is tofindways to improve
thehealthof Canadiansbybetter understanding theagingprocess
and the factors that shape thewayweage. Study investigators are
currentlycollectingawide rangeof data—including several factors
related tooral health status. Dr.MacEntee is a lead researcher in
this study.
Whydidyoubecomeadentist?
I becameadentistbecausemy father
wasadentist. I grewup ina small town in
Irelandandwhen I finishedhigh school I
wasexpected toenter aprofession, and,
tobequitehonest, I drifted intodentistry,
whichall-in-all hasbeenagoodportof
call!
Ifyouhadn’tbecomeadentist,whatwould
yoube?
I think Iwouldhave liked tohavebeena
historian. I’m fascinatedbywhat’sgone
on in thepast, andwhatwehaveorhave
not learned from it.
Wheredoyouseeyourself in5years?
I’d like tocontinuewriting. I edit the
journal
Gerodontology
,which isaprivilege
I hope tomaintain for awhile longer. It’s
nice tocome towork, but the freedomof
retirement fromadaily routine iswhat I
want toexplore.
Whatdoyouwant tobe remembered for?
I hope thepractical contributions to
thehealthandqualityof lifeof older
people—but this isawork inprogress.
Also the role that I hope I’veplayed in
clarifyingand resolving someof the
uncertaintiesofprosthodontics.
Anywordsofadvice toa20-yearoldembarking
onacareer?
Recognize that youcannot control life.
It’svery important toaccommodate the
unexpected, toadapt andcopewhen
ithappens. Recognize theprivileges
and responsibilitiesofbeingpartof a
self-regulatedprofession. Look for the
humour inotherpeople, but aboveall,
be respectful.Mostpeoplearoundyou
arehonest, even if thereare timeswhen
you’renot so sure!
ONTHE
SPOT
WithDr.MichaelMacEntee
Didyouknow...
