From post-war veteran to post-millennium provider: a brief history of general dental practice from 1950-2021 in eight job advertisements

The British Dental Journal has been the go-to place for jobseekers in general dental practice for many years. Using a selected sample of these advertisements from each decade from 1950 to the present, a brief history of general dental practice is described, from the post-war development of the NHS to the dental performer status 70 years later. The paper highlights some of the changes in practice over time and shows the continuing commitment of dental practitioners to the business of dentistry.