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Training of Dentists for Dental Health Program Service
38 • THE J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R IC A N D EN T A L A S S O C IA T IO N
pad may be substituted. This might be more easily tolerated. The board gives excellent support to the head and retains it in position and controls the movement. It is useful also when applying a plaster headcap for treatment o f jaw fractures on a patient who must remain in a supine position because o f other bodily injuries. The weight o f the head invariably distorts the freshly applied cast, especially in the occipital area, causing it to gap in the temporal regions. After the plaster has been applied and smoothed, the headrest is placed in a position that will remove the compression from the posterior part of the skull. Pressure then can be applied in the temporal region of the cast with pads o f gauze or other suitable material, and allowed to remain until the plaster is thoroughly dry.
SU M M ARY
The versatility o f the mobile unit when the dentist and dental assistant work to gether, or when only one operator or hygienist use it, can be appreciated best when it has been actually used. The flexi bility o f the cart is apparent. The funda mental purpose is not to give a complete dental service to the bedridden patient for obviously maximum efficiency is not possible. Rather, the desire is to offer the bed patient as much dental service as is practicable, certainly more than he has been receiving in the past. The facilities of the eye, ear, nose and throat depart ment also can be utilized efficiently in conjunction with the mobile dental unit (Fig. 5 ). 2002 H olcom be Boulevard
Training of dentists for dental health program service
Carl L. Sebelius, D.D.S., M.P.H., Nashville, Tenn.
The program of continuing postgraduate education for the dentists of Tennessee was adopted in 1938 and has now be come a basic part of the program of the Tennessee State Dental Association. It is thought that this type of endeavor is well worth the effort. It means much to the dentist to be able to obtain up-todate dental information without having to be away from the office for a long period o f time. Th e program provides such an opportunity to each dentist in Tennessee. W ith the exception o f the war years, the seminar has been an annual affair.
Eight separate courses have been con ducted to date, with an attendance each year o f from 30 to 60 per cent o f the members of the Association. All courses have been sponsored by the Tennessee State Dental Association in cooperation with the Tennessee De partment o f Public Health. It has been the responsibility o f the dental associa-
A b stra c t of p a per read before the Dental Health Section, seventy-eighth annual m eeting of the A m erican Public Health A ssociation. St. Louis, M o.. No vem b e r 3, 1950. Director of dental hygiene service, Tennessee De partment of Public Health, Nashville, Tenn.
SEB EL IU S . . . V O L U M E 44, J A N U A R Y 1952 • 39
tion to plan and conduct the program each year with the state health depart ment assisting financially. All the instruc tors have emphasized the importance of dentistry for children and the attention that children should receive in the prac tice of dentistry. T h e length of local programs has varied from 12 to 30 hours of instruc tion in each o f the six to nine centers where the courses have been held. The local chairman decides the time o f day when the group will meet. Registration fees each year have varied from $5 to $10. During the first several years, the pro gram was developed and directed by individuals appointed by the president of the Tennessee State Dental Associa tion and by district committees appointed locally. For the past three years, how ever, the program has become the re sponsibility o f the Dental Health Educa tion Committee o f the state society. A member from each district is represented on the committee. In most instances, each member becomes the seminar chairman in his district. H e then appoints indi viduals to serve with him. Each com mittee is responsible for arranging and conducting locally the seminar and en couraging the dentists to attend. The chairman collects all the registration fees and then sends them to the office o f the Association. Even though the program usually lasts four weeks, the committee is busy throughout the year. During the past several years, approximately 2,000 pro grams have been printed each year. The printed program has been relatively com plete and contains the pictures of the instructors, an outline o f the subject mat ter to be covered and the dates and meet ing places. N o doubt, the most ambitious and complete program was the one which was conducted in 1947 on the subject, “ Pre ventive and Protective Procedures In volved in the Care of Children’ s Teeth.”
The two instructors were Joseph Hartsook and Henry Wilbur. The program the first two days consisted o f discussions o f practice management, growth and de velopment, operative and filling pro cedures and pulp management. On the third day, each instructor demonstrated to a group o f dentists the actual dental procedures discussed during the seminar periods. A t all the demonstrations, the instructors performed at least three par tial pulpotomies. While the lectures were given only six times, the clinical demon strations were given 18 times. The dis trict chairman in the large districts as signed each dentist to attend a day of clinical demonstration. T w o instructors have served as a team working together at all o f the seminars except the second, third and fourth. There were three instructors for the second seminar, but each instructor served only one part o f the state. During the eight seminars, there have been seven manuals prepared. Four of the manuals have been printed with illus trations and complimentary copies sent to selected dentists throughout the United States. T he last two manuals have been published in the Journal of the Tennessee State Dental Association. In 1947, the most complete manual was published. This manual, entitled Dentistry for Chil dren., contained 75 pages o f printed material. Since many o f the seminars have been o f interest to health workers, dental hygienists, dental assistants and others, special invitations have usually been sent to selected groups to attend the seminar as guests o f the Association. In 1950 there were approximately 120 guests. Every year a special effort has been made to inform the public o f this most worth-while activity. During the past three years, each district seminar chair man received well in advance one-column newspaper mats of pictures of the in structors with information o f their ac complishments for newspaper use. In
40 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R IC A N D EN T A L A S S O C IA T IO N
practically every district, the newspapers sent reporters to interview the instruc tors. The instructors usually have made radio broadcasts and served as luncheon speakers at local civic club meetings. In 1950 the instructors made four radio broadcasts. It is thought that this type of publicity, which informs the public of the activities of the local dental groups, is most worth while.
Every effort has been made by the committee to make the seminar sessions for the instructors, as well as for the dentists, more than just a work session. The seminar group tries to make the period spent by the instructors in Ten nessee a most enjoyable experience, and hopes that the program which has been described is one which adds good fellow ship to excellent instruction.
Dental status of veterans and nonveterans in foundries
F. J. Walters,* D.D.S., and H . P. Brintonrf Ph.D., Washington, D. C.
The recent World War period brought about changes in the distribution of our population. Fifteen million1 American youths from all parts of our country entered the armed services. At the same tinje, industrial areas became increas ingly congested as the population shifted to meet the demands of manpower nec essary to support greatly expanded war industries. Movement of population, either to the Armed Forces or to the in dustrial areas, influenced the dentistpatient ratio with the result that the Armed Forces experienced a more fav orable ratio than the industrial areas. Therefore, it was believed to be of in terest to determine the extent to which such changes in the dentist-patient ratio may have affected the dental status of those having had Armed Forces
experience and of those who remained as civilians. POSSIBLE INFLUENCES
A recent study conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service of the health status of workers in the ferrous foundry industry in the Chicago area2 offered an opportunity to evaluate pertinent infor mation concerning the dental status of a number of veterans and nonveterans
*Senior dental surgeon, Division o f Industrial Hygiene, U. S. Public Health Service. fSenior statistician, Division of Industrial Hygiene, U. S. Public Health Service. 1. Data as of January I, 1948. Personal com m unica tion from the Veterans A dm inistration. 2. Health of ferrous foundrymen in Illinois. Public H ealth Service Publication, no. 31. W ashin gton , Federal Security A gen cy, 1950.
pad may be substituted. This might be more easily tolerated. The board gives excellent support to the head and retains it in position and controls the movement. It is useful also when applying a plaster headcap for treatment o f jaw fractures on a patient who must remain in a supine position because o f other bodily injuries. The weight o f the head invariably distorts the freshly applied cast, especially in the occipital area, causing it to gap in the temporal regions. After the plaster has been applied and smoothed, the headrest is placed in a position that will remove the compression from the posterior part of the skull. Pressure then can be applied in the temporal region of the cast with pads o f gauze or other suitable material, and allowed to remain until the plaster is thoroughly dry.
SU M M ARY
The versatility o f the mobile unit when the dentist and dental assistant work to gether, or when only one operator or hygienist use it, can be appreciated best when it has been actually used. The flexi bility o f the cart is apparent. The funda mental purpose is not to give a complete dental service to the bedridden patient for obviously maximum efficiency is not possible. Rather, the desire is to offer the bed patient as much dental service as is practicable, certainly more than he has been receiving in the past. The facilities of the eye, ear, nose and throat depart ment also can be utilized efficiently in conjunction with the mobile dental unit (Fig. 5 ). 2002 H olcom be Boulevard
Training of dentists for dental health program service
Carl L. Sebelius, D.D.S., M.P.H., Nashville, Tenn.
The program of continuing postgraduate education for the dentists of Tennessee was adopted in 1938 and has now be come a basic part of the program of the Tennessee State Dental Association. It is thought that this type of endeavor is well worth the effort. It means much to the dentist to be able to obtain up-todate dental information without having to be away from the office for a long period o f time. Th e program provides such an opportunity to each dentist in Tennessee. W ith the exception o f the war years, the seminar has been an annual affair.
Eight separate courses have been con ducted to date, with an attendance each year o f from 30 to 60 per cent o f the members of the Association. All courses have been sponsored by the Tennessee State Dental Association in cooperation with the Tennessee De partment o f Public Health. It has been the responsibility o f the dental associa-
A b stra c t of p a per read before the Dental Health Section, seventy-eighth annual m eeting of the A m erican Public Health A ssociation. St. Louis, M o.. No vem b e r 3, 1950. Director of dental hygiene service, Tennessee De partment of Public Health, Nashville, Tenn.
SEB EL IU S . . . V O L U M E 44, J A N U A R Y 1952 • 39
tion to plan and conduct the program each year with the state health depart ment assisting financially. All the instruc tors have emphasized the importance of dentistry for children and the attention that children should receive in the prac tice of dentistry. T h e length of local programs has varied from 12 to 30 hours of instruc tion in each o f the six to nine centers where the courses have been held. The local chairman decides the time o f day when the group will meet. Registration fees each year have varied from $5 to $10. During the first several years, the pro gram was developed and directed by individuals appointed by the president of the Tennessee State Dental Associa tion and by district committees appointed locally. For the past three years, how ever, the program has become the re sponsibility o f the Dental Health Educa tion Committee o f the state society. A member from each district is represented on the committee. In most instances, each member becomes the seminar chairman in his district. H e then appoints indi viduals to serve with him. Each com mittee is responsible for arranging and conducting locally the seminar and en couraging the dentists to attend. The chairman collects all the registration fees and then sends them to the office o f the Association. Even though the program usually lasts four weeks, the committee is busy throughout the year. During the past several years, approximately 2,000 pro grams have been printed each year. The printed program has been relatively com plete and contains the pictures of the instructors, an outline o f the subject mat ter to be covered and the dates and meet ing places. N o doubt, the most ambitious and complete program was the one which was conducted in 1947 on the subject, “ Pre ventive and Protective Procedures In volved in the Care of Children’ s Teeth.”
The two instructors were Joseph Hartsook and Henry Wilbur. The program the first two days consisted o f discussions o f practice management, growth and de velopment, operative and filling pro cedures and pulp management. On the third day, each instructor demonstrated to a group o f dentists the actual dental procedures discussed during the seminar periods. A t all the demonstrations, the instructors performed at least three par tial pulpotomies. While the lectures were given only six times, the clinical demon strations were given 18 times. The dis trict chairman in the large districts as signed each dentist to attend a day of clinical demonstration. T w o instructors have served as a team working together at all o f the seminars except the second, third and fourth. There were three instructors for the second seminar, but each instructor served only one part o f the state. During the eight seminars, there have been seven manuals prepared. Four of the manuals have been printed with illus trations and complimentary copies sent to selected dentists throughout the United States. T he last two manuals have been published in the Journal of the Tennessee State Dental Association. In 1947, the most complete manual was published. This manual, entitled Dentistry for Chil dren., contained 75 pages o f printed material. Since many o f the seminars have been o f interest to health workers, dental hygienists, dental assistants and others, special invitations have usually been sent to selected groups to attend the seminar as guests o f the Association. In 1950 there were approximately 120 guests. Every year a special effort has been made to inform the public o f this most worth-while activity. During the past three years, each district seminar chair man received well in advance one-column newspaper mats of pictures of the in structors with information o f their ac complishments for newspaper use. In
40 • T H E J O U R N A L O F T H E A M E R IC A N D EN T A L A S S O C IA T IO N
practically every district, the newspapers sent reporters to interview the instruc tors. The instructors usually have made radio broadcasts and served as luncheon speakers at local civic club meetings. In 1950 the instructors made four radio broadcasts. It is thought that this type of publicity, which informs the public of the activities of the local dental groups, is most worth while.
Every effort has been made by the committee to make the seminar sessions for the instructors, as well as for the dentists, more than just a work session. The seminar group tries to make the period spent by the instructors in Ten nessee a most enjoyable experience, and hopes that the program which has been described is one which adds good fellow ship to excellent instruction.
Dental status of veterans and nonveterans in foundries
F. J. Walters,* D.D.S., and H . P. Brintonrf Ph.D., Washington, D. C.
The recent World War period brought about changes in the distribution of our population. Fifteen million1 American youths from all parts of our country entered the armed services. At the same tinje, industrial areas became increas ingly congested as the population shifted to meet the demands of manpower nec essary to support greatly expanded war industries. Movement of population, either to the Armed Forces or to the in dustrial areas, influenced the dentistpatient ratio with the result that the Armed Forces experienced a more fav orable ratio than the industrial areas. Therefore, it was believed to be of in terest to determine the extent to which such changes in the dentist-patient ratio may have affected the dental status of those having had Armed Forces
experience and of those who remained as civilians. POSSIBLE INFLUENCES
A recent study conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service of the health status of workers in the ferrous foundry industry in the Chicago area2 offered an opportunity to evaluate pertinent infor mation concerning the dental status of a number of veterans and nonveterans
*Senior dental surgeon, Division o f Industrial Hygiene, U. S. Public Health Service. fSenior statistician, Division of Industrial Hygiene, U. S. Public Health Service. 1. Data as of January I, 1948. Personal com m unica tion from the Veterans A dm inistration. 2. Health of ferrous foundrymen in Illinois. Public H ealth Service Publication, no. 31. W ashin gton , Federal Security A gen cy, 1950.