In the October 1995 Viewpoint, your contributing editor, Dr. Jack Kennedy, has again shown himself to be one of the best thinkers in dentistry. In doing so, he articulated what most have felt for years.
Dr. Kennedy spoke of dentistry as it was practiced 20 years ago, when common sense was the beacon to success and peace of mind. Over the last decade, we have been so overwhelmed with petty rules and regulations that we are no longer permitted to think for ourselves. With the potential for repercussions from every quarter, be it an unjustifiably, disgruntled employee or an eager OSHA agent, we`re suppressing the enterprising qualities that made our profession great. Thinking for oneself has become hazardous, and, in the process, we`ve removed the subjective "art" from the "art and science" of dentistry.
I commend Dr. Kennedy for his continued leadership and courage. I also commend Dental Economics for its willingness to bring these controversial, yet vital, issues to the front, because these are issues that, if not vigorously opposed, will irretrievably undermine our profession.
Stephen D. Carter, DDS
Stone Mountain, GA
