Uvodno se napominje važnost poznavanja povijesnih zbivanja kako bi se objektivno i kritički moglo procijenjivati određeno vremensko razdoblje.
Daje se kratak osvrt na stomatologiju između dva svjetska rata u odnosu na stomatološku praksu i edukaciju stomatologa na tlu Hrvatske.
Na temelju sačuvane dokumentacije i drugih izvora opisan je kronološkim redom pregled događaja koji su prethodili osnivanju i početku studija na Medicinskom fakultetu u Rijeci počevši od 1959. do 1973. godine. Istodobno su navedeni važniji argumenti i motivi koji su išli u prilog otvaranju stomatološkog studija u Rijeci.The introduction refers to the importance of knowledge of historical events in order to evaluate objectively and critically certain time periods.
A short review is given of dental medicine between the two world wars in relation to dental practice and education of dentists in Croatia.
On the basis of preserved documents and other sources a chronological review is given of events leading to the founding and commencement of study at the Medical Faculty in Rijeka, from 1959 up until 1973. Important arguments and motives are also given which support the opening of Study of Dentistry in Rijeka

Juraj Hraste

Uvodno se napominje važnost poznavanja povijesnih zbivanja kako bi se objektivno i kritički moglo procijenjivati određeno vremensko razdoblje.

Daje se kratak osvrt na stomatologiju između dva svjetska rata u odnosu na stomatološku praksu i edukaciju stomatologa na tlu Hrvatske.

Na temelju sačuvane dokumentacije i drugih izvora opisan je kronološkim redom pregled događaja koji su prethodili osnivanju i početku studija na Medicinskom fakultetu u Rijeci počevši od 1959. do 1973. godine. Istodobno su navedeni važniji argumenti i motivi koji su išli u prilog otvaranju stomatološkog studija u Rijeci.The introduction refers to the importance of knowledge of historical events in order to evaluate objectively and critically certain time periods.

A short review is given of dental medicine between the two world wars in relation to dental practice and education of dentists in Croatia.

On the basis of preserved documents and other sources a chronological review is given of events leading to the founding and commencement of study at the Medical Faculty in Rijeka, from 1959 up until 1973. Important arguments and motives are also given which support the opening of Study of Dentistry in Rijeka

Hraste, Juraj

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A S CActa Stomatol Croat, Vol. 38, br. 3, 2004. 147Dental Medicine in Rijeka up Until the Founding of Study of Dentistry SummaryThe introduction refers to the importance of knowledge of histori-cal events in order to evaluate objectively and critically certain timeperiods.A short review is given of dental medicine between the two worldwars in relation to dental practice and education of dentists in Croat-ia.On the basis of preserved documents and other sources a chronolog-ical review is given of events leading to the founding and commence-ment of study at the Medical Faculty in Rijeka, from 1959 up until 1973.Important arguments and motives are also given which support theopening of Study of Dentistry in Rijeka.Key words: history of dental medicine, Study of Dentistry in Rijeka.Juraj HrasteStudy of Dentistry Faculty of MedicineUniversity of RijekaActa Stomat Croat2004; 147-150IntroductionKnowledge of the past with regard to certainevents, such as for example the 30th anniversary ofthe founding of Study of Dentistry at the MedicalFaculty in Rijeka, help us to objectively and criti-cally evaluate certain events in the past which occur-red in the education of dentists in Croatia.As early as Roman times thoughts on the impor-tance and knowledge of historical events were evi-dent. Thus the eminent orator and philosopher CI-CERON (Marko Tulije ←106 to ←43) wisely pro-nounced that “history is the teacher of life” (His-toria magistra vitae est) (1-3). With this he wishedto stress the values offered by numerous experiencesand lessons from the past.In the middle of the 17th century the Germanphilosopher, historian and mathematician, LEIBNIZ(1646-1716), who was also the founder of the Ger-man Academy of Science, announced to his contem-poraries new and productive thoughts on historicalconnection between the past, present and future (3).The philosophers and thinkers VOLTAIRE(1694-1778) and KANT (1724-1804) (3) also con-sidered that history is not only a series of eventswhich follow one after the other, but rather they fol-low one from the other.Such perception prompted me, on the occasionof the 30th anniversary of Study of Dentistry, toreview the chronology of events preceding the enrol-ment of students in Study of Dentistry in 1973. Dental medicine between the two world warsDuring the period between the two world warsit was not possible to study dental medicine at theMedical Faculty in Zagreb. At that time dentistryA S C Acta Stomatol Croat, Vol. 38, br. 3, 2004.148Juraj Hraste Dental Medicine in Rijeka up Until the Founding of Study of Dentistry was practised by general practitioners after complet-ing postgraduate study, various specialist courses orafter working for a specific period in foreign clin-ics, particularly in Vienna, Graz, Prague, Budapest,Padova, Bologna, or elsewhere abroad. Such physi-cians/specialists in oral diseases most often per-formed dental practise in large towns, while otherdentists practised in small villages and towns through-out Croatia.At that time the number of physicians-specialistsin oral diseases was insufficient for even the mostbasic requirements for dental care of the population,and therefore in 1927 the Law on Health (4) waspassed by which dentists-technicians were allowedto work in the mouths of patients. They needed,however, to satisfy the condition that they hadworked for 10 years in a dental-technical laborato-ry and had obtained confirmation from a physician-dentist that they had helped in the dental surgeryduring clinical treatment of patients. They were thengranted a licence to take the state examination, whichthey were required to successfully pass before a spe-cial committee, named by the Ministry.During the first half of the 20th century dentalservice in Croatia was characterised by dental-tech-nical practise. In this period treatment and replace-ment of lost teeth was closely connected with tech-nical methods of work, and it was therefore con-sidered that the work was more technical skill thanmedical work (5). Not until 1936 was the defini-tion of dental medicine passed at the IX Congressof the International Dental Federation (FDI - Fed-eration dentaire international) (7). Thus it was decid-ed that it is a branch of medicine and that the scopeof its work is prevention, treatment and oral rehabili-tation. Subsequently the tendency towards changefrom dental-technical to dental medicine was evenmore emphasised.Education of the dentist after 1945At the end of the Second World War there weredental high schools in Split and Zagreb which ceasedwork in 1948, when teaching of dental medicinecommenced at the Medical Faculty in Zagreb. Itshould be emphasised that for a long time dualismexisted between dentists, who carried out the pro-fession (“as a trade”) and doctors of dental medi-cine, who adopted a biological-medical approach intheir professional methods and procedures. In thosedays, apart from dental diseases, increasing atten-tion was paid to the improvement and maintenanceof oral health, and the concept of dental protectionof the whole population, with special attention tochildren, young people and old people.Study of Dentistry in RijekaOn the basis of preserved documents (6) andother sources (8-10) we will present a chronologi-cal review of events which preceded the foundingand commencement of Study of Dentistry at theMedical Faculty in Rijeka, from 1959 up until 1973.After work ceased in the dental high schools ofSplit and Zagreb a total number of 70 students grad-uated in the study of dental medicine at the Med-ical School in Zagreb up until 1959, which was notsufficient to enable dental care for the whole of thepopulation of Croatia.Consequently, the possibility of starting Study ofDentistry at the Medical Faculty in Rijeka was con-sidered, and in 1959/60 talks were held between theDean of the Medical Faculty in Rijeka, Prof. KarloPansini, a representative of the School of Dental Med-icine in Zagreb, Prof. Miroslav Suvin, and a repre-sentative of the Public Health Institute within theHealth Centre in Rijeka, Dr. Juraj Hraste, and a rep-resentative of the NO (Peoples Board) County of Rije-ka. After the talks a proposal for the structure of theDental Department of the Medical Faculty in Rijekawas put forward by the Dean, Prof. Æivko Bolf andProf. Miroslav Suvin and Prof. Zdenko Njemirovskij,as the teachers with the greatest amount of theoreti-cal and practical teaching, according to the teachingplan and programme. However the opening of theDepartment of Dental Medicine at the Medical Fac-ulty in Rijeka did not take place because the condi-tion that the Clinic for Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeryshould be opened at the same time in the Clinical Hos-pital Centre in Rijeka was not possible.In February 1961 the Council of the School ofMedicine in Zagreb passed a decision on the for-mation of a Committee for founding an independ-ent Dental School in Zagreb, and also a proposal toA S CActa Stomatol Croat, Vol. 38, br. 3, 2004. 149Juraj Hraste Dental Medicine in Rijeka up Until the Founding of Study of Dentistry found a Higher dental school in Rijeka, Osijek andSplit, where study would last for two academic years(six semesters), in order to at least temporarily sat-isfy the most basic requirements for health person-nel in Croatian dental medicine. After production ofthe necessary elaborate on 6 October 1961 the High-er Dental School in Rijeka was founded accordingto the resolution of NO (Peoples Board) Rijeka, andconfirmed by an act of the Executive Council of Par-liament on 16 November 1961.At that time, according to data from the PublicHealth Institute, there was a shortage of 700-800dentists in Croatia, and the ratio of inhabitants toone dentist was very unfavourable. For example, inthe town of Rijeka the radio was 1:3,049, in theCounty of Rijeka 1:4,808 and in Pula 1:6,428 inhab-itants. According to epidemiological data at the sametime the prevalence of persons with caries was 95%,which means that only five people out of one hun-dred had a completely healthy set of teeth. Dentalprotection for children and young people was almostnon-existent.In the meantime the Department of Maxillofa-cial and Oral Surgery was founded in Suπak Hos-pital with the arrival of Prof. Radomir TavËar. Prof.Juraj Hraste was head of the courses “Dental Mor-phology with an Introduction to Dental Medicine”and “Preventive and Child Dentistry” in the PublicHealth Institute at the Dental Polyclinic (11). Con-sequently the Committee for the founding of theDentistry Department at the Medical Faculty in Rije-ka proposed that the first students in the I semestercould be enrolled in the autumn of 1965. The found-ing of the Dental Department was gradual, and theteaching plan for study in Rijeka was identical tothat in the School of Dental Medicine in Zagreb,with the same number of theoretical and practicalteaching, lasting for five years, i.e. X semesters.On the 28 April 1965 the Committee for found-ing the Department of Dentistry at the Medical Fac-ulty in Rijeka completed a detailed, documentedelaborate of 18 pages, giving detailed reasons forthe proposal. This was completely accepted theTeachers' Council and the Council of the MedicalFaculty in Rijeka. The Dean at the time was Prof.Davor PeroviÊ and President of the Council Prof.»edomil PlavπiÊ. The following year, on 29 June1966, the Professional Council of the Public HealthInstitute unanimously passed a conclusion of “agree-ment with the opening of the Department of Den-tistry at the Medical Faculty on the condition thatat the same time the Dental High School discontin-ues (the School ceased working in 1968), and thatthe opening of Study of Dentistry does not increasethe costs of financing the school, which this year isborn by the Public Health Institute”.Finally the Republican Secretariat for Educationand Culture passed a resolution (27. 6. 1966) that allconditions for the enrolment of students and hold-ing of courses at the Department of Dentistry, Med-ical Faculty in Rijeka were fulfilled, and on the basisof a written report by the Committee, which includ-ed Prof. Ivo Miπe, Doc. Vladimir Lapter from theSchool of Dental Medicine in Zagreb, and Prof.Duπan Jakac from the Medical Faculty in Rijeka.On 17 June, 1970, a basic agreement was signedbetween the Medical Faculty in Rijeka (Dean. Prof.Zdenko Kriæan) and the School of Dental Medicinein Zagreb (Dean: Prof. Ivo Miπe), in which bothsides agree to jointly found and organise Study ofDentistry in Rijeka. The professional Board includ-ed both Deans and the same number of teachers fromboth schools/faculties.During 1972 several articles appeared in the presswith numerous statements to the effect that, forexample, a School of Dental Medicine was open-ing in Rijeka, which was not true, and that such studywas not needed because it already existed in Zagreb,and also that that there was an insufficient numberof teachers for professional dentistry subjects etc.In order to give the correct information, partic-ularly to health employees, an article was publishedin “LijeËniËke novine”, the official newspaper of thebranch-office of the Croatian Medical Society inRijeka, Zadar and Pula (God. II, No. 8, p 1-2). Thearticle was headed “The truth about Study of Den-tistry in Rijeka” (8). On that occasion certain obscu-rities were clarified, which were later used in talksand discussions (Independent faculty, Sector,Department, Study at the Medical Faculty) and alsoin reports in the daily press. At the same time inthe aforementioned article in “LijeËniËke novine”reasons were put forward which supported the open-ing of Study of Dentistry in Rijeka, and which weresubstantiated by epidemiological data on dental-oralA S C Acta Stomatol Croat, Vol. 38, br. 3, 2004.150Juraj Hraste Dental Medicine in Rijeka up Until the Founding of Study of Dentistry health, the lack of dentists in Croatia, compared tocomparative data from other centres and countriesand also other relevant data, in order to serve thepurpose of objective judgement of the social andprofessional need, with the aim of arriving at a finaldecision on the opening of Study of Dentistry inRijeka.For the above reasons, in order to obtain the offi-cial opinion of the Health Service, the Council ofthe Public Health Institute passed a decision (27. 12.1972) in accordance with articles 71 and 72 of theLaw on Health “that its units will serve as the scien-tific teaching base for students of medicine and den-tal medicine”.The following year (1973) the Dean of the Med-ical Faculty in Rijeka, Prof. Slobodan Δuk, presentedinformative reasons to the University of Rijeka forthe founding of Study of Dentistry. Finally on 22October 1973 the Scientific Teaching Council of theMedical Faculty and the University Council in Rije-ka (Dean: Prof. Zorislav Sapunar and President ofthe Council Prof. Davor PeroviÊ) presented theirpositive opinions with the explanation that there wasa social need, that a sufficient number of teachershad been ensured and that material conditions exist-ed for the commencement of teaching in the aca-demic year 1973, at the time that the University inRijeka was also founded.ConclusionFinally at the end of this report we present themost important motives and arguments which sup-ported the opening of Study of Dentistry at the Med-ical Faculty, such as the following:• The natural development and broadening of workof the Medical Faculty in Rijeka, which wasfounded in 1955, and up until 1973 the need forphysicians and dentists had increased sig-nificantly.• Study of Dentistry is related to the study of med-icine, because out of the total number of 33 sub-jects, according to the teaching plan and pro-gramme 25 are relative to medical subjects and8 to specific dentistry subjects.• With the introduction of Study of Dentistry futurestudents had the possibility of choosing betweenthe study of general medicine or dentistry duringenrolment at the Medical Faculty.• A good material base and premises already exist-ed for teaching at the Medical Faculty, hospitalcapacity, in the Public Health Institute at the Den-tal Polyclinic (the premises of the former Den-tal High School, with appropriate equipment forpractical teaching of dentistry subjects, and lit-tle financial investment necessary for the com-mencement of teaching.• With the founding of Study of Dentistry integra-tion of health, teaching and scientific work indentistry was achieved, which had a positiveeffect on the development and quality of healthprotection.

Dental Medicine in Rijeka up Until the Founding of Study of Dentistry

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