University of Toronto Dental Students Society - Hy Yaka Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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ZRCDC A athletes. Baseball diamonds are also found scattered over the camp. And o' yes . . . that inevitable thirst . . . . . may be appropriately quenched at one of the many Officers' Messes located throughout the camp. During his first summer at Camp Borden, the candidate is sent to the Royal Canadian School of Infantry. His instructors are from various regiments across Canada, such as the famous Van Docs , Princess Pats, Black Watch and many others. For the first week, the cadet is faced with training of a domestic nature - - - learning to make beds, and keeping the general cleanliness required of a bar- racks. All equipment, clothing and weapons are is- sued at this time, and he is made familiar With their upkeep. In the next few weeks, the cadet receives lectures on the use of all the weapons at his disposal, at the same time, he is trained in precision drill and movements on the parade square . . . this type of training is required to make the cadet look like he belongs in the uniform which he was issued. At midsummer, the cadets will use all their weapons with live ammunition, but are not permitted to do so until they have mastered them theoreti- cally, and fully understand their safety precautions . . . . then its out to the rifle and machine gun ranges. Next stop is the hand grenade range, and from there to the anti-tank range. After reaching a degree of perfection and confidence in these Weapons, the cadet is returned to the lecture hall where he is introduced to basic military tactics, or the 'physiology' of what he has learned thus far. This includes night manoeuvres, attack exercises, and escape methods. It is here for the first time that the cadet is trained as an officer .... he takes turns with his mates giving orders to others. At this time, the individual is tested to see how he reacts to certain situations, and what natural leadership qualities he may have. Instruction in First Aid, Military Law, and Atomic-Biologic-Chemical Defence round out the cadet's first phase training. He has received a healthy educational experience and although anxious to get home, looks forward to that next summer . In his second summer, the cadet is sent to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps School. Here he receives refresher courses in Military Law, Anat- omy, Physiology, Bacteriology, and very extensive courses in First Aid enabling him to qualify for the St. John certificate. The cadet is now introduced to the makeup and function of the Medical Corps in detail, since it is with the Corps that the RCDC is most closely associated, the cadet must understand its organization perfectly. He first learns this theo- retically in the lecture hall, then he is given the opportunity to show how much he has learned by going to live with a Field Ambulance for one to two weeks on 'war games'. Here again he is tested for leadership prowess. To make these war games as interesting and as realistic as possible, a specialized team of Medical Corps personnel introduce the Anti-tank weapon training cadets to casualty simulation . . . this is a technique using dyes, and cements whereby end results of ac- cidents, wounds and burns may be visually demon- Casualty handling strated. The men who practise this art are esteemed to be the best in the world, even putting Hollywood injury-simulators to shame. At the end of eight weeks, the cadet graduates from the Medical Corps School and is sent to the Royal Canadian Dental Corps School, where he is able to practise his laboratory skills, or his operative technique on phantom heads. He is also sent to

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Many students here at the Faculty of Dentistry have often seen posters, or heard discussion con- cerning the ROTP - RCDC plan. Herein is a summary of this plan, explaining its purpose and of what it consists. ROTP is the Regular Officers' Training Plan, the RCDC is the Royal Canadian Dental Corps. The purpose of this training program is to train stu- dents attending any Canadian Dental College, as junior officers, upon graduation from their respec- tive Dental schools, they are commissioned into the RCDC as fully trained captains. Obstacle course training The RCDC is a branch of the Canadian Army, is has however, a tri-service function, meaning that the dental officer will serve Army, Air Force, and Navy alike, wherever Canadian Forces are looated in the world. The Corps was organized to provide dental treatment for these forces because the use of civilian practitioners proved impossible. The rea- sons for not using civilian dentists are many: Cab The civilian practitioners, who has not under- gone military training, couldn't possibly appreciate the daily problems of his own staff, or patients. Subsequently, he would lose respect and control over these people. Chl In a theatre of war, the dental officer is often sent to the forward areas in cases of emerg- ROTP? ency, civilian practitioners are not trained to cope with environmental problems that they would be expected to face in areas under fire. QCD Since a large percentage of personnel in the makeup of the Dental Corps are auxiliary personnel Chygienists, assistants, lab technicians, administra- tive peopleb, the civilian dentist would find himself at a loss adjusting to the routine. For example, in the Corps, the dental assistant is called to do much more than he or she is expected to do in a civilian office. At any rate, the Government of Canada has found it more practical to supply its Forces with a Dental Corps and a dental clinic is normally found in every camp where Canadian Military Personnel are located. The m.ain headquarters for the RCDC is at Army Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario. It is here that all new methods of training, new equipment, and new supplies are approved, but only after they have been used and tested at the Dental Corps School at Camp Borden and in other major clinics across Canada. The training of the ROTP-RCDC candidate is handled in three phases over a period of three years, in turn, each phase is broken down into a winter theoretical phase, and a summer practical phase. The theory is handled through the University COTC program, consisting of lectures one evening per week, the practical phase is taught at Camp Borden. Camp Borden is located 65 miles north-west of Toronto, and eighteen miles west of Barrie. It can be reached by the main highways of 27 and 401, also both main rail lines run trains into the camp. For Air Force personnel, the camp may be entered via the air, as a large air field is found within the limits of the camp. The camp itself is bordered by miles of timber and brush on three sides, on the west, it is bounded by a small desert which reaches out to farming country at the base of a range of hills known as the Blue Mountains. Within the camp is an air of cleanliness, due to the high standards of hygiene and sanitation. It presents a very colorful picture to the visitor .... each training centre is set off in its own corps colours. This fact also enables the newcomer to find his way about the camp. For example, all buildings and signs of the Infantry School are painted red and white, at the Signals School, everything is in blue and white . . . and so on. The camp is like a miniature city in that all forms of recreation may be found within its limits. There are two movie theatres, and two golf courses, of the latter, one is a beautiful eighteen hole course carved out of its natural surroundings. An indoor, and outdoor swimming pools are also available. A new ultra-deluxe gymnasium with all facilities has just been recently constructed to harbour the winter

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2: 1- ' ! a P l 1 Wiki-, Instructional laboratory the main clinic to assist dental officers, bringing him in direct contact with the human oral cavity. After four weeks of this training, the cadets again leave Borden to return to their respective universities. After candidates have finished their third dental year at university, they are sent to the Royal Canadian Dental Corps School. It is a brand new school, and second in training facilities only to the new school here in Toronto. It has a junior and senior dental laboratory all equipped with the latest in lab equip- ment. The main clinic floor has new units, all of which are outfitted with high speed drills, each unit is in a separate cubicle allowing the dental officers and his assistant a semblance of privacy with each patient. On the main floor is a large library on whose shelves are the latest periodicals and texts, there are also two main lecture rooms, one equipped with film-projection equipment. For the first three weeks at the Dental School, the cadet receives training in the care of all dental equipment. He learns at the same time how the Dental Corps operates in time of war and he be- comes familiar with the field dental units. He is also introduced to the method of documentation for Page 58 An operating bay keeping records of all treatment, indenting for equip- ment and materials, and how to control the use of this equipment and materials. Fully qualified instructors then give refresher lectures in periodontia, partial denture planning, oral surgery, anaesthesia, and operative dentistry. With these smaller classes, the instructors are able to give individual attention, thereby increasing the confi- dence and skill of the student. At the end of the first month, the students are sent to the main clinic where they immediately be- gin treating dental problems. Each cadet is super- vised by a senior instructor, and assisted by a dental assistant. Here again, individual attention helps the cadet in perfecting his dental ability. It was once, perhaps, a popular conception that the type of dentistry done in the Corps was an in- ferior one . . . that exodontia is practised in the majority of dental cases. Well, let's straighten that out right nowg one of the senior clinicians at the school once said If there were as much effort in learning how to save a tooth by putting in a proper restoration, as there is in how to remove a tooth . . . . exodontists would be out of a job . To sup- port his claim he showed that the only surgery done in the school was impactions, fractures and repair of maxillo-mandibular wounds. Only on the rarest of occasions is a carious tooth removed, and then, only after hours of pulp-resuscitation have proved fruitless. The summer ends all to soon for the cadet at the Dental Corps School, he now returns to his university for his final year, with considerable more experience and confidence than his civilian counter- parts. The training the ROTP cadet has undergone has prepared him as a leader of men and made him physically and mentally fit. He is now ready, after graduation, to become a permanent professional member of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps. - EW Gaza Cedized by Brig. K. M. Barrd, Director General of Dental Servicer, 0T1'A WA 9