A Reply From A Dentist- Part II

The Star, 16 February 2008

I REFER to the letter ‘Dental visits a pain in the pocket’ (The Star, Feb 13). The dental treatment charges in Malaysia are well regulated by the Medical Practice Division, of the Health Ministry under the Private HealthCare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586).

This act is well supported by Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners’ Association and Malaysian Dental Association.

Dental practitioners’ in the private sector whether they are GPs or Specialists are well trained in this aspect and are supposed to adhere and practise dentistry according to these guidelines.

The healthcare clients (new terminology for patients) have their own rights. Under the Act, they have all the rights to know about the charges and treatment procedures.

If they do not feel satisfied with the dentist, there is the “Grievances Mechanism” in clinics to address the issue under the Act.

The writer also said that the dental surgeons were not well versed in drugs.

The second year of dental course covers pharmacology.

In fact, dental surgeons can treat Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (sore throat) that is a common disease treated by medical practitioners.

The third year covers subjects of general surgery and general medicine.

The syllabus clearly shows that dental surgeons are on par with their medical counterparts.

Another accusation by the writer is that implantologists are not well trained and medical GPs can place implants.

This is a joke!

My sincere advice to him is, please look at your backyard.

There are a lot of illegal and incompetent medical practitioners. Try to rectify that.

We have our own professional body to regulate competency.

In conclusion, I feel the writer was wrong in all his statements and figures.

He was too emotional in expressing his opinion and created an increase in dental phobia among dental patients.

One important phenomenon that everyone must realise is that: “What a dentist can do only a dentist can do.”

Dr NEDUNCHELIAN VENGU,
President,
Malaysian Private Dental Practitioners’ Association.