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

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CHARLES F. BODECK.ER DTJ.S. Professor of Dentistry EDMUND APPLEBAUM D.D.S. Assistant Prof, of Dentistry The importance of the application of the knowl- edge of oral histology to the clinical branches of dentistry is increasing, as is evidenced by the re- sults of recent experimentation in operative den- tistry. Studies of the dental lymph have shown that the presence or absence of this fluid affects the marginal areas of cavities, particularly if the fillings had been placed early in life. The varying per- meability of the teeth of young and old persons is also related to the dental lymph. Permeability is a factor in the activity of dental caries; in older persons the low permeability of the tooth crowns retards the penetration of the destructive process, while high permeability of the permanent teeth of children and adolescents permits rapid destruction. Vital staining of teeth of dogs shows that the enamel as well as the dentin is completely permea- ble to dyes placed in the pulp. Human deciduous teeth treated similarly show that the dental lymph carries dyes through the dentin to the inner zone of the enamel. A two way diffusion in the dentin has been demonstrated. These observations sug- gest that the lymph serves some definite purpose tik Ltin WILLIAM LEFK.OWITZ D.D.S. Assl. Prof, of Dentistry KFRNERD THOU S D.D.S. Instructor in Dentistry ORAL HISTOLOGT in the recently erupted tooth and studies concern- ing the possible physiological activity of this fluid are being continued. The permeability of freshly cut. non-carious den- tin in relation to phenol has been studied. It was observed that this drug penetrates from a shallow cavity to the pulp in 18 hours. The present state of the experiments does not indicate that phenol is contraindicated for cavity sterilization because the permeability of the dentin is usually reduced under caries by a blocking of the tubules through metamorphosis of the dental lymph. The use of phenol may be harmful because of its rapid, easy penetration of the open, lymph-filled tubules. Studies in the Division of Dentistry for Children suggest that apparently phenol does not permanent- ly harm the dental pulp of deciduous teeth: in fact, it seems beneficial in stimulating the formation of secondary dentin. The effects on rats of a disturbed acid-base bal- ance as a possible factor in dental caries is also be- ing studied. CHARLES F. BODECKER, D.D.S. ORAL ANATOMT MOSES DIAMOND D.D.S. Associate Prof, of Dentistry JACOB ERDREICH D.M.D. Assistant in Dentistry ROBERT N. HOFFMAN D.D.S. Assistant in Dentistry

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HOUGHTON HOLLIDAV A.B., D.D.S. Associate Dean and Professor of Dentistry RADIOLOGIC EVALD LIXDER Technician HARRY M. Ml ' LHAL ' S Technician The Radiology Division has been interested during the present year in designing, constructing, and testing a Laminograph. A Laminograph (lamina: thin layer) is a device by which plane sections of solid objects may be projected roentgenographical- ly; in other words, the roentgenographic shadow of a selected plane in a body remains stationary on a moving film, while the shadows of all other planes have a relative displacement on the film, and are therefore blurred according to their distance from the selected plane. This result is obtained by moving the point of origin of the x-rays and the recording medium or film. The x-ray tube and the film carriage move in synchronism in parallel planes and the patient is placed on a table over the film carriage. The principle of the Laminograph was worked out and a device patented bv Mr. Jean Kieffer of Norwich, Conn., in 1929. However, the device is complicated and expensive, and for many years no clinical use was made of it. In recent years it has been used extensively in pulmonary studies and it is thought that it may make it possible to detect active tuberculosis much earlier. Workers in some other fields have felt that they were unsuccessful in accomplishing anything clinically that could not be equally well done with the standard roentgeno- graphic procedures. It seemed possible that the principle might be successfully applied in studying the temporomandibular articulation. Accordingly the construction of an experimental apparatus was undertaken in the school machine shop. In brief, the apparatus consists of an oil im- mersed x-ray tube and transformer head and a film holder mounted about three feet apart, revolving in horizontal planes while the film is being exposed to the x-rays. The patient ' s head is interposed slightly above the film carrier on an adjustable table, bringing the temporomandibular articula- tion into the plane which remains stationary on the moving film. Limitations of space and time have interfered with the testing of the apparatus, and we are not vet prepared to say whether or not it will give diagnostic information of any greater import than that obtained bv ordinary methods. It is hoped that it may be possible to secure a clear image of structures which would otherwise be obscured by dense overlying or un- derlying tissue because the superimposed shadows would be blurred bv motion of the film and the x-ray tube. HOLGHTON HOLLIDAV, D.D.S.

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PEDODONTIA A EWIX ' G C. McBEATH D.D.S.. B.S., B.M.. M.D. Professor of Dentistry LEWIS R. STOWE D.D.S. Associate Prof, of Dentistry SOLOMON X. ROSENSTEIN B.S.. D.D.S. Assistant Prof, of Dentistry Physical examinations of candidates for military and naval service are revealing an astonishingly high number of disqualifications, among which is a high percentage of dental defects. This appalling impair- ment of dental health in robust bodies emphasizes dentistry ' s enormous responsibility. These young men are representative of generations arising from about 1905 to 1920. As a dental practitioner during this period, I distinctly recall the derogatory and discouraginglv patronizing attitude of dentistry at large toward the few then interested in practic- ing dentistry for children. The task of caring for child patients was doubly difficult because of the lack of professional interest, and the traditional attitude of parents against the performance of any dental service for their children, except for immediate relief by the removal of the temporary teeth which would fall out in a few years anyway. Fortunately, dentistry began to consider seriously the efforts of those comparatively few crusaders. Amazing progress has been made from both preventive and reparative standpoints. Dentistry is now a well established and recognized health service and deserves the recognition it is receiving for the increasing universal education of parents and children as to dental health needs. Dental colleges are rapidly organ- izing and establishing departments for the teaching of dentistry for children. The young child of today is becoming a well-seasoned patient long before the disappearance of his deciduous teeth. The desire for attractive and comfortable mouths is fast transcending the unjustified fear of dental operations. It seems not too optimistic to predict that a much greater percentage of young adults from generations of the last decade or so will present a dental picture very different from those of preceding generations. Certainly there are many of today ' s children not receiving dental care. A thorough canvass of the profession must elicit means for absorbing a great percentage of these. Dentistry must feel obligated to muster its own forces for this increased service and thereby prevent the adoption of proposed drastic measures advocating outside inter- vention which would threaten the integrity of our proud and dignified profession. e. c. mcbeath. d.d.s.. m.d. ORAL PATHOLOGY LESTER R. CAHN D.D.S. Associate Prof, ot Dentistry 1 1 1 XR-i V B R 1 1-1 s B.S.. D.D.S. Assistant Prof, ot D ' ntistry