Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery - Dental Columbian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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Looking Ahead ALBIN R. SEIDEL, D.M-D., Instructor in Dentistry To the average dental student, busy meeting the requirements ol both theoretical and practical phases of the dental course, the future is far away. The pre-dental course of three years and the four years of dental school make graduation day seem almost an abstract goal. How- ever, before most students realize, that great day is upon them, and they are not always prepared to meet the challenge. It is reasonable to assume that in order to make the later years easier, one must prepare to make himself more valuable and useful to his fellow man. The early years are those of work, preparation, and the accumulation of knowledge. They are the easiest years in which to make sacrifices. Outside interests and obliga- tions have not developed- and therefore are not present to disturb or distract him. There are present at this time the vigor and drive of youth plus the desire to learn, which are essential. My purpose is to emphasize the advantages gained by the student who serves an intemeship for at least one year. The best time to do this is the year following graduation. To many students the extra year would seem an impossibility but it is well worth any sacrifice of time or money. A dental intemeship in a reputable hospital does something to the dental graduate that should give him an advantage over his former class- mates. He attains a manner and understanding that is very apparent. His attitude changes during this period. He develops an approach, a faculty of observation, and a sense of responsibility. Otherwise, these could be acquired only through the hard knocks of many years of self-experience. I do not wish to create the impression that an intemeship is the panacea for all dental ills. Far from it. But the knowledge and experience which a dental graduate can accumulate in a year ' s time will not only be of great benefit in bringing about the alleviation of pain and suffering to his patients, but will also bring immeasurable satisfaction to him in knowing what he is doing and what his limitations are. How many men graduating from dental school know when and how to make incision and establish drainage? How many know when a tooth should or should not be extracted in an acute inflammatory process? Sometimes it is very easy to answer these questions on paper, but when a patient seeking advice and service is sitting in the chair in your office, are you qualified to make the decision and perform the operation? It is true that the principles and technic of dental surgery are taught in the dental courses, and with much emphasis. But they do not always register on the student unless he sees all of the varied conditions clinically. A great deal more time would have to be given this particular phase of dentistry, and, apparently, under the present curriculum this is an impossi- bility. Twenty-three

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Oral Pathology LESTER R. CAHN D.D.S. Assoc. Prof, of Dentistry HENRY A. BARTELS B.S., D.D.S. Assist. Prof, of Dentistry R. H. ALEXANDER B.S., D.D.S. Assistant in Dentistry Radiology HOUGHTON HOLLIDAY A.B., D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry EVALD LINDER Technician HARRY H. MULHAUS Technician

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In my opinion there are two branches of dentistry in which the student has training only in the essentials, and they are dental surgery and ortho- dontics. The dental interneship fills in the gap for dental surgery. It gives the interne the opportunity to develop the most important step in the treat- of dental disease, namely diagnosis. In arriving at a diagnosis he is impressed by the need of a case history, of clinical examination, and radiographic interpretation. , He realizes the value of antisepsis, and the dangers of sepsis and infection, and the magnificent power of nature m bringing about a healing process. The dental interne learns to be cautious and considerate. He develops a real surgical sense in the handling of tissues in and about the mouth. He is taught the value of pre- and post- operative care. He has the opportunity to observe the effects of oral infec- tion on general health in some of the medical cases he examines. These, with many other items of interest, widen the young dentist ' s concept of the practice of dentistry and make him a more valuable and useful servant of public welfare. In looking ahead, especially in this day when planning for the future is much in vogue, students who wish to follow the road of successful dental practice will do well for themselves and their future patients by serving a year as an interne in a creditable institution.