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Only through research can successful preventive dental measures be found
E D IT O R IA L S . . . V O L U M E 64, M A Y 1962 • 131/727
prepayment health plans, postpayment health plans, dental service corporation proj ects, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and other types of insurance, dentistry’ s annual National Children’s Dental Health Week program is among the most practical. Because it is based on prevention, it is sensible, economical, noncontroversial and has unlimited potentialities. Its effectiveness is limited only by the degree with which it is accepted by parents, educators and others in each community. National Children’s Dental Health Week, held early in February each year, is the outgrowth of a Children’s Dental Health Day initiated in several Ohio cities during the early nineteen forties. Its success in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron and other Ohio communities prompted the House o f Delegates of the American Dental Association to adopt it as a national program in 1949. By 1955 National Children’s Dental Health Day, under the able leadership of the Bureau of Public Information, had become so popular that it was extended to a full week in length. In 1956 the Bureau of Dental Health Education was placed in charge of the program, and under its direction the project has continued to grow in effectiveness and popularity. Each year National Children’ s Dental Health Week grows in width and in depth, in acceptance and in performance. This year’s program was by far the best ever held; however, there is still room for improvement. Many communities still do not partici pate, and some that do could do so more effectively. The activities of this year’s program reported by the Bureau of Dental Health Education should stimulate every member o f the Association and challenge every dental society to double their interest and double their efforts to make next year’s program more educational, more constructive, more productive than those in the past. 1. A m e rica n D e nta l A sso cia tio n , ¡962, p . 710 o f th is issue.
Bureau o f D ental H e a lth
E d u ca tio n . N a tio n a l C h ild re n 's D ental H e a lth W eek
Only through research can successful preventive dental measures be found
The world has long recognized American dentistry’s leadership in operative skill and restorative service. Now that the nation has taken a keener interest in anticariogenic and other preventive measures, that leadership also extends into the field of dental research. The Association can take some credit for the part it has played in bringing about American dental leadership. It can take some credit for the part it has played in improving the standards o f dental education and dental care, for improving the public’s appreciation of good dental health, for promoting preventive dentistry and for encouraging an increase in appropriations— both public and private— for dental research. The public’s appreciation of good dental health and its awakening to the need for dental research first became evident during the late nineteen-forties. Since then,
132/728 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R I C A N D E N T A L A S S O C I A T I O N
each year has seen new developments in public dental health, in dental research and, of equal importance, in the public’s interest in preventive dentistry. This interest on the part of the public is reflected in the growth of federal appro priations for dental research. In 1956 the National Institute of Dental Research budget for dental research grants and fellowships was less than a half million dollars— $421,000 to be exact. By 1962 it had been increased 28.5 times— to $12,021,000— of which 7.4 million dollars is for research grants alone. At the present time the National Institute of Dental Research supports approximately five hundred individual dental research projects in more than one hundred institutions in this country and abroad. Many of the activities and studies reported in the “ 1961 Review o f Dental Research” published on pages 611 to 655 of this issue were made possible by grants to private institutions from the National Institute of Dental Research, thereby enabling public resources to be joined with private know-how and initiative to attack a public enemy and solve a common problem. This fiscal year, which ends on June 30, the total appropriation for the National Institute of Dental Research is $17,335,000. The Association has recommended to Congress that the appropriation be increased to $24,394,000 for fiscal 1963. The increase is needed largely for the purpose of increasing dental research training programs in today’s 47 dental schools and in those soon to be established. It is hoped that Congress will act favorably on the Association’s recommendation, as only through prevention can dental disorders be conquered and only through research can successful preventive measures be found. Members who are in accord with that thinking should make their thoughts known to their senators and representatives in Congress.
prepayment health plans, postpayment health plans, dental service corporation proj ects, Blue Cross, Blue Shield and other types of insurance, dentistry’ s annual National Children’s Dental Health Week program is among the most practical. Because it is based on prevention, it is sensible, economical, noncontroversial and has unlimited potentialities. Its effectiveness is limited only by the degree with which it is accepted by parents, educators and others in each community. National Children’s Dental Health Week, held early in February each year, is the outgrowth of a Children’s Dental Health Day initiated in several Ohio cities during the early nineteen forties. Its success in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron and other Ohio communities prompted the House o f Delegates of the American Dental Association to adopt it as a national program in 1949. By 1955 National Children’s Dental Health Day, under the able leadership of the Bureau of Public Information, had become so popular that it was extended to a full week in length. In 1956 the Bureau of Dental Health Education was placed in charge of the program, and under its direction the project has continued to grow in effectiveness and popularity. Each year National Children’ s Dental Health Week grows in width and in depth, in acceptance and in performance. This year’s program was by far the best ever held; however, there is still room for improvement. Many communities still do not partici pate, and some that do could do so more effectively. The activities of this year’s program reported by the Bureau of Dental Health Education should stimulate every member o f the Association and challenge every dental society to double their interest and double their efforts to make next year’s program more educational, more constructive, more productive than those in the past. 1. A m e rica n D e nta l A sso cia tio n , ¡962, p . 710 o f th is issue.
Bureau o f D ental H e a lth
E d u ca tio n . N a tio n a l C h ild re n 's D ental H e a lth W eek
Only through research can successful preventive dental measures be found
The world has long recognized American dentistry’s leadership in operative skill and restorative service. Now that the nation has taken a keener interest in anticariogenic and other preventive measures, that leadership also extends into the field of dental research. The Association can take some credit for the part it has played in bringing about American dental leadership. It can take some credit for the part it has played in improving the standards o f dental education and dental care, for improving the public’s appreciation of good dental health, for promoting preventive dentistry and for encouraging an increase in appropriations— both public and private— for dental research. The public’s appreciation of good dental health and its awakening to the need for dental research first became evident during the late nineteen-forties. Since then,
132/728 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R I C A N D E N T A L A S S O C I A T I O N
each year has seen new developments in public dental health, in dental research and, of equal importance, in the public’s interest in preventive dentistry. This interest on the part of the public is reflected in the growth of federal appro priations for dental research. In 1956 the National Institute of Dental Research budget for dental research grants and fellowships was less than a half million dollars— $421,000 to be exact. By 1962 it had been increased 28.5 times— to $12,021,000— of which 7.4 million dollars is for research grants alone. At the present time the National Institute of Dental Research supports approximately five hundred individual dental research projects in more than one hundred institutions in this country and abroad. Many of the activities and studies reported in the “ 1961 Review o f Dental Research” published on pages 611 to 655 of this issue were made possible by grants to private institutions from the National Institute of Dental Research, thereby enabling public resources to be joined with private know-how and initiative to attack a public enemy and solve a common problem. This fiscal year, which ends on June 30, the total appropriation for the National Institute of Dental Research is $17,335,000. The Association has recommended to Congress that the appropriation be increased to $24,394,000 for fiscal 1963. The increase is needed largely for the purpose of increasing dental research training programs in today’s 47 dental schools and in those soon to be established. It is hoped that Congress will act favorably on the Association’s recommendation, as only through prevention can dental disorders be conquered and only through research can successful preventive measures be found. Members who are in accord with that thinking should make their thoughts known to their senators and representatives in Congress.