A Look Back at That 70's CDA

By Birgit Gajdos, CDA - Guest Blogger

How many of you get a laugh out of “That 70's Show” on TV? If you are like me, you smile as you recognise the fashion, fads, and familiar things from those days gone by. Perhaps like me, you are one of the 800+ CDABC members who have been in the profession for over 30 years. Remember the "old school" days when we were not required to wear personal protection in the workplace? Safety glasses were always recommended, but masks and gloves were not considered standard practice for most dental procedures.

During my training, hairstyles were kept neat and short or long and tied back. Jewelry was kept to a minimum and could include stud earrings, waterproof wristwatches, and wedding bands. Multiple body piercings, body art tattoos and artificial fingernails were uncommon and therefore not an issue. Routinely inspected natural, short, clean fingernails without colored nail polish were the rule. Our white laced “duty shoes” were always expected to be clean and polished. Two sets of interchangeable pantsuit type school uniforms were issued to us for the year, one set navy and the other pale blue. I did not consider them flattering and therefore declined to include a photo. White or pastel coloured dress and pantsuit uniforms were the norm in the dental office.

In those early days dental assisting students wore nurse’s caps. Did you know that Vancouver Community College / Vancouver Vocational Institute’s 12th graduating dental assisting class of 1975 had to earn their nurse’s caps? We wore them in clinic at VVI and the University of British Columbia’s dental school. It was suggested that our cap represented a “conscientious application of principles”. During our graduation ceremony we were awarded a red velvet ribbon stripe for our caps.

Our profession seemed so much more formal in those days. Nowadays many health care and dental professionals argue that they do not depend on uniforms for their authority and as a result the dress codes have also become more casual.

Originally, nurses wore white caps and uniforms to signify respectability, cleanliness, and servitude. Later caps became more symbolic, and were worn as a measure of achievement, occupational authority, and status.

Over the years, my own cap eventually wound up buried amongst Halloween costumes. Just recently, I retrieved and laundered it and now it has become a “classic” item which retains sentimental value. I like to show it to the younger generations and share my story with them.

Sassy Scrubs thanks Birgit Gajdos, CDA and Guest Blogger

Find out more about Birgit at http://www.toothfairycyberspace.com/