Louie R
Med Care. 1978 Jul;16(7):584-97.
In comparison to the living conditions that existed before 1949, the People's Republic of China (PRC) represents a remarkable story of achievement. Western knowledge about the PRC has recently increased by leaps and bounds as detente with the United States has allowed many Americans to witness the "awakening of the dragon." Many of the achievements have been in the development of a health care delivery system that uniquely addresses the needs of the most populous country. There are numerous reports on the advancements made in manpower development and deployment, infectious disease control, family planning and acupuncture anesthesia and therapy. Yet there is little information about dental care in China. Dental disease being an essentially preventable disease has an interesting status in the Chinese health care system which relies on prevention rather than cure. In September and October 1974, the author visited five cities in China, Kwangchou (Canton), Peking, Tientsin, Suchou, and Shanghai and the respective countrysides except for Tientsin. Though any account or description is certain to be but a glimpse of Hsin Hua (the New China), the story is worth being told even if it must be accomplished by small chapters contributed by many individuals. In this light, the author explores the following areas: dental manpower training, which in China has produced stomatologists, dental technicians and dental nurses; the oral health status of school age children, dental care delivery and facilities, and probably the most remarkable while at the same time provocative areas, acupuncture analgesia and therapy.
与1949年以前的生活条件相比，中华人民共和国取得了非凡的成就。随着与美国关系的缓和，许多美国人得以目睹“巨龙的觉醒”，西方对中国的了解近来有了飞跃式增长。诸多成就体现在发展出了一套独特地满足这个人口最多国家需求的医疗保健体系上。有大量关于人力开发与调配、传染病控制、计划生育以及针刺麻醉与治疗方面进展的报道。然而，关于中国牙科护理的信息却很少。牙科疾病本质上是一种可预防的疾病，在中国这个依靠预防而非治疗的医疗保健体系中有着有趣的地位。1974年9月和10月，作者访问了中国的五个城市，广州、北京、天津、苏州和上海，以及除天津外各自的农村地区。尽管任何描述肯定都只是对新华（新中国）的惊鸿一瞥，但即便必须由许多人贡献的小章节来完成，这个故事也值得讲述。有鉴于此，作者探讨了以下几个方面：中国培养了口腔医生、牙科技师和牙科护士的牙科人力培训；学龄儿童的口腔健康状况、牙科护理服务与设施，以及可能最显著同时也最具争议性的方面——针刺镇痛与治疗。
