1938: Dentistry

The dental profession continues to show advancement in two distinct directions: (1), preventive dental care and (2), reparative dental service. With the United States Public Health Service leading the way, decay of the teeth, the most prevalent defect found in American school children (over 98 per cent), is being attacked on all fronts. Although the cause of dental caries (decay) has as yet not been definitely established, developments in this field of research indicate that diet, including drinking water, are perhaps main factors. More attention is therefore being given to the dental factor in the feeding of infants before the teeth erupt and even earlier, to the diet of the expectant mother.

Preventive Dental Care.

From a practical standpoint, dentists are urging dental care for preschool children. The care of the baby teeth is of value not only because of their function in chewing but also because affections in the first set of teeth can be transmitted to the second or permanent teeth. It has, moreover, been found that retention of the baby teeth for their full natural period is necessary to the growth and development of the jaws and face as well as for the proper alignment of the permanent teeth as they erupt. At the same time, early extraction of permanent teeth without artificial replacement, especially common in children, initiates drifting of all of the teeth, changes in their relationship which show themselves in the imbalance of the face and, what is of even greater importance, an increase in the number of teeth affected by decay.

Additional evidence of the progress made in the prevention of dental disease is the growth of preventive orthodontic measures intended to forestall gross mal-relationship of the jaws and teeth commonly referred to as 'crooked teeth.' Progress in the methods of treatment of the latter condition continues apace with the recognition of the fact that 'crooked teeth' are really crooked jaws and that changes in the shape of the jaws have to be effected before the teeth can be aligned in a normal position. Muscular exercises for the correction of certain mal-relationships are coming into use as an adjunct to the metallic appliances or 'braces.' In addition to other benefits, parents can now give their children the advantage of a pleasing facial appearance.

In what was known as Youth Lane at the dental convention at St. Louis in October, 1938, hundreds of local prize-winning posters made by school children and gathered from all parts of the country were exhibited. This was the result of the campaign on Dental Health for American Youth initiated by the president of the American Dental Association. The poster campaign has proven of inestimable educational value by emphasizing dental-health care among school children as well as their parents. During the same meeting resolutions were passed calling for the inclusion of measures for the study, reduction and prevention of dental decay among school children of the nation to be included in Federal and state health plans. With the rise in public health activity by Federal, state and local authorities, dentistry which has been pleading its cause in that field for some time has begun to receive increased attention with the result that many states are now including dental health education as well as service among their activities. Many articles and a book dealing with public health dentistry in all its phases have made their appearance. It is now generally recognized among health workers and physicians that dental care is an important phase of general public health endeavor. At the health conference held in Washington, D. C., during July, the American Dental Association went on record as supporting a national program of prevention as well as of universal dental care for school children. Since the prevalence of dental caries is so great, dentists feel that the most logical way to increase dental health standards would be to begin with a program of dental health education directed to the child.

Reparative Service.

On the other hand, dentistry has shown active progress in the development of new techniques and materials for the improvement of artificial appliances used to replace lost teeth. Of importance to those whose business and social duties do not allow them to retire into seclusion during the period when teeth are lost and before artificial replacement can be made is the new method developed by dentists which makes it possible to construct artificial dentures to replace extracted teeth, even before the natural teeth are removed from the mouth. Thus, as soon as the diseased teeth are extracted the artificial denture is inserted into the mouth without interrupting the routine of the patient.

Conservative estimates show that only 20 per cent of the people avail themselves of the services of dentists. Of the many reasons for this low percentage, perhaps the leading one is that people are still afraid of the dentist. This is, however, no longer a valid reason for neglecting one's teeth, and though the use of so-called 'pain-killers' to eliminate dread of the dentist have not proven 100 per cent efficient, newer developments have actually made it possible to perform almost all dental operations with a complete absence of pain. These methods do not necessarily involve the use of general anesthetics such as nitrous oxide, but may be accomplished by the local application of drugs which reduce sensitivity of the teeth themselves.