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The Need of Balance
Editorial Department THE NEED OF BALANCE In the practice of what has been termed modern dentistry there is an ever-increasing need of balance. In common with every other calling there seems to have grown up a tendency toward a radical de parture from long-established custom, and no man is considered pro gressive today unless he brazenly attacks most of the professional procedures of the past. We need new ideas in this as in every pursuit of life—we need the infusion of new blood. It is the very life of any profession. But all the new is not good and wholesome, nor is all the old disintegrating, unwholesome or bad. Very frequently a new idea runs away with its advocate, and leads him to do things which are not only ridiculous, but which are actually harmful. A case in point in dentistry is the so-called “surgical removal of teeth.” There has seldom been introduced in our profession a method of procedure which has worked greater damage in a given time than has this. It has left in its wake much needless suffering and much permanent injury. One authentic case is reported where the antrum on both sides of one mouth had been opened and exposed by this senseless gouging and scraping. Mouths have been mutilated beyond repair, and patients have been crippled for life so far as the comfortable wearing of dentures is concerned. Yet so insistent have some of its advocates become that the moment a sane, conservative man utters a word of caution or protest he is at once branded as an old fogy, and held up to ridicule. There has developed a pronounced tendency among a certain class of men to ride roughshod over the ideas of some of the older practitioners in this matter. When a man of years and experience, who has the welfare of his patients conscientiously at heart, goes on record against this practice, and gives his reasons in a clear and logical manner, he should be listened to with respect instead of attacked with invective and innuendo. After all, long experience in any pursuit prepares a man to judge as to the value or lack of value in a given method of procedure more surely than does all the theorizing or assertion of all the enthusiasts in the profession. The men who today are clamoring for “surgical ex655
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The Journal of the American Dental Association
traction” seem to forget that for several centuries at least teeth have been extracted without subsequent scraping or other surgical interfer ence, and for the most part the cases have promptly healed without further trouble. The preponderance of evidence is so manifestly in favor of letting the tissues alone after tooth extraction, and so decidedly against radical measures either before or after the removal of the tooth that there would seem to be no ground for argument. In the rare cases where the tissues do not heal after extraction and where the socket fails to properly fill in and where pus persists, it is then proper to resort to surgical procedures—but not otherwise. Let us counsel together,in these matters—let us whole-heartedly confer with each other, to see what is best for .our patients; and when any new or spectacular idea seizes upon the profession let us study it carefully to see whether or not it is sound in practice as well as in theory. Above all let us not berate those who advise caution and con servatism, and who, through years of loyal service to the profession and to humanity, are entitled to speak with some authority. There has been too much flamboyant assertion connected with the advocacy of “surgical extraction”—too little calm deliberation to see whether or not it would work for the ultimate welfare of the patient. The time has come when no fiat sent out by a few fanatical enthusiasts must be per mitted to stampede the profession out of sanity and reason.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT The first thing that attracts and holds our attention with this, the Cleveland Number of The Journal is the beautiful and highly significant cover design, which in itself sends greetings and carries a wonderful message; then as we turn the pages and carefully read the prepared program, we must certainly agree that every indication points to the fact that the coming meeting of the American Dental Association at Cleveland, Ohio, September 10 to 14, will be the largest and best meet ing ever held. Those who are in a position to know claim that never before in the history of the Association has the entire program been completed so far in advance of the meeting. At the midwinter meeting of the trustees and officers held in Cleveland the latter part of March, every section officer reported a completed program for his section; and definite plans were outlined for the early completion of the program for the General Sessions, which have been carried out for several weeks past.
656
The Journal of the American Dental Association
traction” seem to forget that for several centuries at least teeth have been extracted without subsequent scraping or other surgical interfer ence, and for the most part the cases have promptly healed without further trouble. The preponderance of evidence is so manifestly in favor of letting the tissues alone after tooth extraction, and so decidedly against radical measures either before or after the removal of the tooth that there would seem to be no ground for argument. In the rare cases where the tissues do not heal after extraction and where the socket fails to properly fill in and where pus persists, it is then proper to resort to surgical procedures—but not otherwise. Let us counsel together,in these matters—let us whole-heartedly confer with each other, to see what is best for .our patients; and when any new or spectacular idea seizes upon the profession let us study it carefully to see whether or not it is sound in practice as well as in theory. Above all let us not berate those who advise caution and con servatism, and who, through years of loyal service to the profession and to humanity, are entitled to speak with some authority. There has been too much flamboyant assertion connected with the advocacy of “surgical extraction”—too little calm deliberation to see whether or not it would work for the ultimate welfare of the patient. The time has come when no fiat sent out by a few fanatical enthusiasts must be per mitted to stampede the profession out of sanity and reason.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT The first thing that attracts and holds our attention with this, the Cleveland Number of The Journal is the beautiful and highly significant cover design, which in itself sends greetings and carries a wonderful message; then as we turn the pages and carefully read the prepared program, we must certainly agree that every indication points to the fact that the coming meeting of the American Dental Association at Cleveland, Ohio, September 10 to 14, will be the largest and best meet ing ever held. Those who are in a position to know claim that never before in the history of the Association has the entire program been completed so far in advance of the meeting. At the midwinter meeting of the trustees and officers held in Cleveland the latter part of March, every section officer reported a completed program for his section; and definite plans were outlined for the early completion of the program for the General Sessions, which have been carried out for several weeks past.