A major breakthrough for the development of oral surgery occurred when Chalmers Lyons was appointed Professor of Oral Surgery in both the medical and dental schools at the University of Michigan.

He served in this dual capacity for over 20 years. Lyons had the energy and drive to establish a preeminent training program in Oral Surgery. Under the guidance of Dr. Don Bellinger, the Ford Hospital in Detroit also instituted an outstanding training program. In the early 1950s, two Canadians were admitted, in succession, to this program - a major concession to the University of Toronto and Dr. Joe Johnson, then Professor of Oral Surgery, at a time when Ford Hospital was receiving 100 qualified applications a year from U. S. citizens.

Radiology, oral pathology and anesthesia are three of the foundations of oral surgery. Until relatively recently, oral pathology was a much neglected subject. When Kurt Thoma published his mammoth book on oral pathology, the profession's understanding of this subject took an enormous leap forward.

Another advance occurred with the release in 1963 of H.M. Worth's Principles and Practice of Oral Radiological Interpretation. This text, combined with the clinics he presented across the country, have been potent influences aiding the progress of oral surgery in Canada.

In the field of anesthesia, the contributions of William Ewing and staff at Akron; Fred Clement in Toledo; Morgan Allison in Columbus; Leonard Monheim in Pittsburgh and Mendel Nevin in New York are worthy of note.

The idea of forming a Canadian Society of Oral Surgeons started with discussion among members of the Ontario Society of Oral Surgeons. It was deemed desirable to establish a national forum to discuss surgical problems, to oversee the rapidly changing format of graduate education and to speed progress in oral surgery after the pattern demonstrated by its counterpart in the United States.

An organizational meeting was convened in conjunction with the joint meeting of the CDA in the fall of 1953. Though notice of this meeting was publicized widely across Canada, the attendance was disappointingly small. Nonetheless, pro tem officers were elected and a committee was formed to draft a constitution.

It was later decided that the annual business and scientific meeting be held at the same time and place as the annual meeting of the CDA. This would help connect the oral surgeons with their fellow specialists across Canada. It also gave exposure of the aims and objectives of the infant society to the rank and file of Canadian dentists.

The first scientific session was rather meager for lack of funds, but the second showed much improvement and gave promise for the future. Not long after its inception, the Society was formally recognized as a section of the CDA.

The phenomenal growth and success of the Society is due largely to the initiative, self-sacrifice and dedication of successive Executive Councils. The load has always been heavy, but has progressively increased with the growth of the Society.

In 1964, an act to incorporate the Royal College of Dentists of Canada was enacted by the federal government (F.R.C.D.(C)).

Its objective was to provide proof of academic and clinical excellence, and of adequate training through a rigid, two-part examination. It also aimed to encourage adequate training programs in Canadian dental schools. By 1973, three-year training programs in Oral Surgery were being offered at Dalhousie, McGill, Toronto and Manitoba.

Continued progress in oral surgery depends upon constant renewal by younger oral surgeons emanating from unassailable teaching programs. It also relies on the vigilance of the Canadian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in continually pressing for higher standards in the profession. Thus far, the success of the organisation has more than fulfilled the dreams of its founders.

Source: Address by J. H. Johnson, D.D.S.

Professor Emeritus   Faculty of Dentistry   University of Toronto   1973

Many thanks to Dr. Alva Swanson and Dr. Guy Maranda for their assistance with editing and revision.

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