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Bureau o f Public Relations coalesce in the formative period, or they may result from pressure within the tis sues o f the jaw during development which tears apart the enamel rods and prevents further calcification. Such de velopmental defects, being the results of natural forces, are of course unavoidable, but they must be given prompt attention. Otherwise, caries w ill develop, and, in young patients, the progress o f the disease is comparatively rapid. Pulpitis supervenes, exposure o f pulp, infection and suppuration, with direct, and perhaps indirect, injurious effects to the general health. W e w ill therefore neglect no means at our command to de tect and treat pre-carious or potentially carious pits and fissures. W herever possible, the region to be investigated is isolated with cotton rolls, and the teeth wiped with alcohol and blown thoroughly with compressed air. A n extremely fine-pointed explorer is passed over the surface to be examined, and often it is desirable to employ binocu lar loupes or a powerful magnifying glass in doubtful places. I f the explorer catches in the pit or fissure, this is cut out and filled, or rounded out and polished, and only the deepest part, which may involve the dentin, is filled, the surface after treatment being left in such shape that the bristles of the toothbrush can reach and keep it clean, all according to D r. H yatt’s technic, with which you are
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doubtless familiar. It is fundamentally sound. Let us emphasize to the parent the necessity of seeing children as soon as each group o f molars erupt; also, when ever one of the deciduous second molars is lost. M any times, a filling in the me sial surface o f the first permanent molar can be avoided by polishing or applying silver nitrate promptly, or a permanent simple filling can be inserted in place of an extensive compound one before the bicuspid comes into place. H ow e’s silver nitrate treatment may be used to advan tage to check beginning caries in the proximal surfaces o f deciduous teeth, but too much reliance should not be placed on this, and frequent check-ups should be insisted on when it is used. T h e roentgenogram is not necessary for the detection o f caries, although it may be a helpful adjunct to the explorer, mirror and floss. It is very useful at times in showing the depth o f caries and its proximity to the pulp. Also, of course, it is invaluable for determining condi tions around pulpless teeth and for locat ing unerupted teeth, impacted teeth and other such dental abnormalities. In conclusion, let me add three basic considerations in prevention: (1 ) thor ough familiarity with the normal; (2 ) understanding o f the etiology o f oral dis eases, and (3 ) early and frequent exam ination.
SEPTE M B ER D A Y S A R E S C H O O L D A Y S Do the educators in your schools know that they can secure authentic dental health educational material from the Bureau of Public Relations of the American Dental As sociation ? Make it your business to inform every school principal and teacher and every school board member in your town or city that your Association can supply them with dental health educational material. Better still, write today for free copies of the Association’s lists of dental educational material and supply your educators with them. Address: Bureau of Public Relations, American Dental Association, 212 E. Superior St., Chicago, 111.
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doubtless familiar. It is fundamentally sound. Let us emphasize to the parent the necessity of seeing children as soon as each group o f molars erupt; also, when ever one of the deciduous second molars is lost. M any times, a filling in the me sial surface o f the first permanent molar can be avoided by polishing or applying silver nitrate promptly, or a permanent simple filling can be inserted in place of an extensive compound one before the bicuspid comes into place. H ow e’s silver nitrate treatment may be used to advan tage to check beginning caries in the proximal surfaces o f deciduous teeth, but too much reliance should not be placed on this, and frequent check-ups should be insisted on when it is used. T h e roentgenogram is not necessary for the detection o f caries, although it may be a helpful adjunct to the explorer, mirror and floss. It is very useful at times in showing the depth o f caries and its proximity to the pulp. Also, of course, it is invaluable for determining condi tions around pulpless teeth and for locat ing unerupted teeth, impacted teeth and other such dental abnormalities. In conclusion, let me add three basic considerations in prevention: (1 ) thor ough familiarity with the normal; (2 ) understanding o f the etiology o f oral dis eases, and (3 ) early and frequent exam ination.
SEPTE M B ER D A Y S A R E S C H O O L D A Y S Do the educators in your schools know that they can secure authentic dental health educational material from the Bureau of Public Relations of the American Dental As sociation ? Make it your business to inform every school principal and teacher and every school board member in your town or city that your Association can supply them with dental health educational material. Better still, write today for free copies of the Association’s lists of dental educational material and supply your educators with them. Address: Bureau of Public Relations, American Dental Association, 212 E. Superior St., Chicago, 111.