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

Page 15 text:

CARL R. OMAN. D.D.S. I ssociate Prof, of Dentistry GEORGE F. LINDIG, D.D.S. .fssistanl Prof, of Dentistry IRVIN L. HUNT. Jr. D.D.S. Instructor in Dentistry RICHARD CARSON B.S.. D.D.S. Assistant in Dentistry EDWARD H. KOCH A.B.. D.D.S. Assistant in Dentistry HERBERT P. FRITZ B.S.. D.D.S. Instructor in Dentistry MILTON R. MILLER B.S.. D.D.S. Instructor in Dentistry V WILLIAM MILLER B.S.. D.D.S. Assistant in Dentistry

Page 14 text:

LEROV L. HARTMAX, D.D.S.. Sc.D. Professor of Dentistry It is inevitable that the preponderance of the work performed by the dentist, and particularly the young graduate, is Operative Dentistry. It is in this field that he must be capable from the very outset. With this idea fully in mind the operative division has endeavored to ensure in the graduating student a complete familiarity with the technical problems, and an understanding of the rationale and philosophy of this phase of dental practice. The student begins his course in operative den- tistry in the second year. At this time he is fully versed in dental anatomy and histology and has had small experience with hand instruments. It is the first aim of this division to begin the real de- velopment of that essential digital dexterity. This same nimbleness of finger and ability to coordinate will be each man ' s priceless tool throughout his practice. Gold foil restorative work is then the first tech- nique taught and practiced. This is presented first not simply because of the profound belief in the utility of that material but because of the exacting technical skill required in its management. A man who is capable of working with gold foil is dis- ciplined technically to the highest degree and is ready to learn to work with other materials. At the same time the sophomore is made familiar with dental nomenclature, instruments, materials and procedures. He is introduced to the dental disease known as caries, its recognition and the best means of dealing with it. He is instructed in the essentials of cavity preparation and the appli- cation of these principles on large and small scale models. OPERs TIFE DENTISTRY With the coming of the junior vear the student is coached in actual dental work in the clinic. He is first taught the use of the rubber dam in a rigor- ous practice period while he becomes familiar with work at the chair. He begins in the actual that ever fascinating art of restoring lost parts of vital teeth. He accustoms himself to working in a confined area, where accessibility becomes an important fac- tor and where he must be able to use the mouth mirror with skill. The lectures during this year are of a different nature. The theories of oper- ative practice, its philosophy, its guiding rationale are emphasized so that no act is performed which is not understood. With the senior year the student approaches the time when he will practice dentistry on his own responsibility. Every effort is made to simulate the conditions of his future practice. He is given work of all sorts to do; anything that lie might be con- fronted with in his own office. He is taught root canal therapy. His lectures are in the nature of a discussion, an interchange of ideas, with the final aim the development of the ultimate requisite. judgment. What do we hope to have accomplished in you who are graduating? We feel that you are able technically, that you can perform the acts which your understanding and intelligence dictate. We feel that you will weigh your deeds maturely. Finally we hope that you will have pride in Your achievements, a striving towards the highest qualit) . We hope and feel that these things are so. LF.ROY L. HARTMAN, D.D.S.

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PROSTHETICS EARLE B. HOYT, D.D.S. At certain periods some specific fields of any pro- fession become static. This occurs in many ways; but basically because of a widespread acceptance throughout the profession of an accumulation of fundamental facts. Until new facts are unearthed, or those which had previously been regarded as true are proven false, this condition of stasis continues. In the division of restorative dentistry, that part which is known as crown and fixed bridge prosthe- sis assumes currently such a role. It cannot be said though that the foregoing ap- plies to either full or partial denture prosthesis. Here we have a condition of active unrest and in- vestigation which is an outgrowth of dissatisfac- tion with pre-existing professional and educational standards. In addition to a general attitude of skepticism, there has occurred within the past five or more years an influx of new materials for den- ture purposes as well as a hitherto unthought of impression material. Specific reference is made to the acrylics; to the substitutes for precious metals, which are used under the trade names of Vitallium, Ticonium, and others; and the impression material group known as hydrocolloids. Coincidentally with the introduction of these materials, the horizon of restorative possibilities has been tremendously widened but not without increased problems for the practitioner and the educator. Both the acrylics and the metal substi- tutes have been evolved commercially and not from within the profession. The resultant dependency of the profession therefore on outside groups is increased, and the responsibility thus created is not being squarely met. The processing of the precious metal substitutes, because of the need for extensive equipment and the time factor involved. has placed the commercial dental laboratory in a commanding position. This is especially true when the practitioner is more than willing to delegate his. sole prerogative of diagnosis and prescription to such hands. Obviously this creates a condition in which a university trained dentist accepts and passes along to his patient, as his own, the diagnosis and prescription of those totally unprepared by education or clinical observation to give. The sole bulwark against such a situation is the university itself. It alone can accumulate, corre- late, and distribute accurate knowledge and ac- cepted truth. This department has inaugurated a ten-year study of the chaotic partial denture field to the end of evaluating and comparing the results of varying diagnoses and technical procedures. There is much in the full denture technique that requires clarification and simplification from an educational standpoint. As contributing factors, the current year will see the introduction of a new syllabus on full denture technique as well as a con- cise statement of denture problems for lav informa- tion. Two staff members have contributed note- worthy studies — one in the field of the acrylic resins and the other on the resultant factors of bite closure as related to impaired hearing. The latter study- was carried out in conjunction with the Ear. Nose, and Throat Department of Presbyterian Hospital and brings new light on the biologic factor in den- tal prosthesis. A further experimental study is under way in which restorative mouth procedures are reproduced in experimental animals. The biologic application of all restorative measures through mechanical means is of supreme impor- tance and presents a field inadequately explored. EARLE B. HOYT. D.D.S.