1939: Dentistry

During the past year, dentistry celebrated the centennial of the discovery of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear in 1839. In the course of the century, since 'vulcanite' (hard rubber) was adapted for use in making dentures or 'plates,' many attempts have been made to introduce new low cost denture materials such as celluloid, aluminum, gum-resins and others. Outside of gold and stainless steel or the comparatively newer chrome alloys, all denture materials have thus far failed to displace vulcanite in popularity. At present dentures of acryloid resins bid fair to displace vulcanite from its time honored position in denture prosthesis.

Acrylic acid, the parent substance of the acryloid resins, was itself discovered almost a century ago in 1843, but was practically forgotten until 1931 when it was reintroduced in the intermediate layer in safety glass. Tests made at Northwestern University Dental School indicate that the methyl-methacrylate resins of the acryloid group are the most adaptable for denture work. The Research Commission of the American Dental Association, in collaboration with the United States Bureau of Standards, is conducting further tests on denture base materials as well as on other dental materials.

It should not be deduced from the foregoing that dentistry is interested mainly in the perfection of the mechanics as they apply to dental practice. During the year 1939, the Research Commission of the American Dental Association published a volume on Dental Caries (tooth decay) which may establish the long sought for cause of dental decay.

Dental Caries.

Dental Caries is the most prevalent of all diseases. At three years of age, 84 per cent of children examined showed the presence of decayed teeth while at five years of age the percentage jumped to 96. It has been estimated that 98 per cent of the children of the nation suffer from tooth decay which interferes with their general physical development and school progress to varying degrees. The publication of the American Dental Association presents the findings of 195 research workers in 27 different countries throughout the world. While no attempt was made in the above publication to evaluate the findings and the conclusions presented, the work does afford an opportunity for interested workers to learn the essence of the researches in the various fields that they may coordinate their own work. (See also BIOLOGIAL CHEMISTRY.)

Orthodontics.

In order to bring the benefits of orthodontics (popularly known as 'tooth straightening') to a greater number of the children of the nation, the American Association of Orthodontists has established a Bureau of Public Relations. The work of this Bureau is conducted mainly through public health workers, health educators and the medical profession, who are supplied with reliable information relative to the possible prevention of deformities of the face, jaws and teeth. Orthodontic specialists are keenly aware of the great number of children who are being denied the benefits of competent care because of the general lack of information.

World's Fair Exhibit.

Dentistry received due attention at the New York World's Fair. An exhibit for the public was erected in the Medicine and Public Health Building by the Dental Society of the State of New York. This exhibit which occupied over 700 square feet of space portrayed the results of dental neglect, and the benefits of regular dental care and attention. The relationship of the teeth to the body as a whole were shown by means of large automatic models. One of the outstanding exhibits dealt with the relation of dentistry to general public health, from infancy to old age.

Dental Survey.

'Who goes to the dentist?' was answered at least in part in a survey published by the United States Public Health Service. This survey was made to determine the amount and kind of dental care received by a representative sample of the population. Over 70,000 persons, 3 years of age or over were surveyed. According to this survey, one out of every three members of the entire population of the country actually visited the dentist in any one year. However, these visits included free clinic service as well as private dental care. The percentage of persons reported as having visited a dentist in the year before the canvass was made varied greatly with the economic condition of the family. Fully 42 per cent of those who visited a dentist belonged to professional families while only 16 per cent were members of unskilled workers' families. Approximately 15 teeth were filled for each one hundred persons in the low income group while one hundred teeth per one hundred persons were filled in the higher income families.

In the meantime, a publication of the United States Department of Commerce points out that the incomes of dentists are comparatively low when measured in terms of incomes in other professional fields.

Suggested Dental Service Improvement.

Among the methods proposed for making dental care more available was one dealing with lowering of the educational requirements of dentists. 'American dentistry' now regarded as the most outstanding in the world was thought by some as 'too expensive' for the average American citizen. However, when the comparatively low income of dentists is considered, it can readily be seen that lowering the quality of American dentistry is certainly not among the solutions for obtaining more widespread dental care.

As a result of the conditions described in the foregoing and because of the general trend towards the provision of health care either on a government subsidized or insurance basis, the American Dental Association has appointed a National Health Program Committee to represent the Association in helping to frame legislation which would include dental care in a national health program. At a hearing held before the United States Senate Sub-Committee on Education and Labor, which is now considering a health bill, the American Dental Association's Committee made the following proposal among others: That a program of preventive dentistry for children be inaugurated, together with increased efforts in dental health education and in research on the causation of dental disease.