LETTER TO THE EDITOR

National endodontic symbolismaej_315 84

Dear Editor,May I salute the consummate lobbying skills of someas-yet unrecognised champion for the endodontic cause.I refer to the wisdom and dexterous advocacy which mustsurely have occurred prior to adoption of the logo bythe Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency(AHPRA).

I mused over this latest example of creeping Canberrapower-grab; this time in the name of dentists (and others)being able to practice in various states of the nationwithout the pesky business of having to fill out extrapaperwork. In my experience dentists are a pretty station-ary lot, and I sense that quite a satisfactory system is beinguprooted as another part of a semi-hidden agenda ofcentralised control. I know there are the peripatetic fewpractitioners, but I suggest that their now-past inconve-nience was a flea-bite in the big picture. Although, with allmanner of ‘clinics’ bearing the name of the suburb or somesmile attribute, and not that of the principal dentist –and the Fund clinics soaking up an ever-increasing pro-portion of graduates – the era of dentists still being there tosee and learn from their own mistakes and failures 5 or 10years hence, seems to be disappearing.

I gather that the new super-board is not going to sullyitself with the distasteful task of disciplinary matters –retaining in some way the remnant state boards (at leastin NSW) to continue functioning for that nasty purpose.

For myself, I can derive limited satisfaction fromlodging my passive objection to the ‘renditioning’ of morepower to the Canberra, by declining their kind offer to‘transition’. I am somehow glad not to be having to shiftfrom a 7-digit NSW Registration Number, to 2 bar codesplus a total of 36 digits in User ID, Password and Health-care Provider Identifier Number. That is if AHPRA’s 2010correspondence is a guide. And I presume that the 6-digitMedicare HIC Provider Number (for prescriptions, etc.)still stands. What a bureaucratic triumph that is – and allfor a fee increase of a mere 47%!

However, my main purpose here is to acknowledgethe coup for endodontics, by getting the unmistakableimprint of our special area to be the exclusive feature ofthe AHPRA logo. I refer of course to the clever layout ofthe unique and time-honoured ‘trademark’ of RCT – thegutta-percha point. There are 33 of them. I don’t knowif there was a competition for choosing the design, butassuming that they did not commission a design expert tocome up with this zinger, it is all hail to the impeccabilityof the judges’ choice. Or has someone behind the scenesquietly succeeded in pulling off an endodontic PRmasterstroke?

What can straightaway be seen on AHPRA’s envelopes,etc. – and many ASE members would surely have noticed– is an array of Size 30 and 35 colour-coded GP points.They are neatly arranged for their extremities to form theoutline of Australia – with even a snipped few mm of thebutt end of a Size 35 to represent Tasmania! The pointsconverge individually and collectively to the North. Thisis perhaps an acknowledgement that Asia is where theymostly come from; but could equally be symbolic ofAustralia’s aspirations more generally.

My endodontic heart is gladdened to know that alldoctors and nurses, etc. will henceforth be payingunknowing homage to the whole root canal enterprisewhenever they have dealings with AHPRA. That is, untilsome future bureaucrat, or management consultant, orparliamentary committee, comes up with the brilliantidea of devolving registration power (back) the States – ifindeed States still exist when that time comes.

Anthony MartinSydney, New South Wales, Australia

doi:10.1111/j.1747-4477.2011.00315.x

Aust Endod J 2011; 37: 84

84 © 2011 The Author

Australian Endodontic Journal © 2011 Australian Society of Endodontology