24th June 1946
Deutscher Dentisten

Reichsverband Deutscher Dentisten

(Reich Association of German Dentists)

Soon after the constitution of the North German Confederation (1861–1871) came into force on 16th April 1867, the first licensing regulations called 'Announcement concerning the examination of doctors, dentists, veterinarians and pharmacists' were issued in accordance with Section 29 of the Trade Regulations for the North German Confederation in 1869. In 1872, it also became legally effective for the newly founded German Empire, according to which anyone was allowed to treat sick people without proof of appropriate training.

Unlicensed medical practitioners soon began to change the job title 'dental artist' to 'dentist'. For unlicensed dental practitioners, dentists in turn suggested the (derogatory) job titles 'dental worker' or 'denture worker'.

With regard to the job title dentist , they indignantly referred to the Romansh and Anglo-Saxon usage, according to which the terms 'dentiste' and 'dentist' referred to a licensed dentist. However, a sworn expert on foreign languages ​​came to the following conclusion in a court report in 1907:

'The meaning of the word 'dentist' can be broken down into two parts, depending on what it is composed of: dens = tooth and the suffix 'ist'. The same suffix is ​​used in many words for people who practice some kind of occupation, business, art, etc., for example ars = art, artist = artist, one who practices the arts. It is obvious that such terms do not contain any title, but rather the term 'dentist' is to be understood as a person who treats teeth, so that the term 'dental artist, dental technician' would mean the same thing as 'dentist'. So the person who calls himself a dentist is a dental technician who practices a free trade and who does not claim a title and is not entitled to one. Those who claim and are entitled to the title and who have passed an exam are dentists or, depending on their university education, doctors of dental practice. Therefore, neither foreigners nor nationals can confuse a dentist with a dental practitioner.'

In 1908, the 'Association of German Dental Artists' changed its name to the 'Association of Dentists in the German Empire' (VDDR). In the following years, the term 'dentist' found its way into official language - despite protests from dentists.

In 1910, training to become a dentist in Germany took at least six years. Three of these years were spent with a dentist, and one year was spent training in prosthetics , primarily with a dentist. This was followed by four semesters of training at a dental training institute, with a final examination. Licensed medical professionals were authorised to teach at dental training institutes.

In 1920, dental training was recognised by the state. After completing the state dental examination, graduates were 'state-certified dentists'. They did not receive a license to practice.

During the Nazi era, SA-Oberführer Fritz Blumenstein (1898–1993) was the Reich's Dentist Leader and from 1940 head of the Statutory Health Insurance Dentists' Association of Germany. During the Third Reich, the 'Reich Association of German Dentists' showed a great willingness to serve the Nazi regime in terms of professional politics in order to defend the market position of dental practitioners (which was contested by the organised dental profession).

In 1949, the dualism between dentists and dentists came to an end in the Soviet occupation zone (Leipzig Agreement). The legal basis was the 'Order on the Licensing of Dentists of March 2, 1949', which was issued by the Health Department of the German Economic Commission. The order stipulated that dentists would be accepted into the dental profession or prepared for an abbreviated university course after an appropriate period of training, which was based on the length of their practice.

Source: Wikipedia.de

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