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

Page 17 text:

Joseph A. Cuttita A.B., M.S.. D.D.S. Asst. Prof, oi Dentistry 1 MaMxA Jack Budowsky, D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof. oi Dentistry F. A. Tuoti. D.M.D. Instr. in Dentistry Ida M. Golomb. D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry During the past decade notable advances have been made in the various specialties of dentistry with particular progress in the scien- tific aspects. True, the advent of chemother- apy and antibiotics is responsible for certain therapeutic improvements. It is fallacious, however, to attribute our progress in relation to oral disease as being due entirely to thera- peutic innovations. There is manifest in den- tistry at present an awakening, a realization that if we are to fulfill our obligations in the field of mouth diseases we will have to do it almost solely through our own efforts. Assum- ing these responsibilities and attaining a de- gree of self-reliance has truly elevated den- tistry as a health science. This comparatively new trend is evident in most schools and institutions of dental learn- ing. It is emphasized by the countless numbers of research projects directed not simply to discovering improved therapy for our many oral diseases but rather to uncover the true nature of these little known diseases. The field of oral diagnosis is playing its role in this new trend. Diagnosis is not simply the art of recognizing or identifying a specific oral disease; diagnosis is the corre- lation of basic knowledge directed toward the study of the nature of each disease with its inherent, specific, peculiar inner processes. Thus, diagnosis is more than a discipline — it is a science.

Page 16 text:

stomatology diagnosis and radiology The Division of Stomatology, comprising the Sections of Oral Diagnosis, Radiology, and Periodontology, has a number of functions. As its name implies, it is concerned primarily with teaching the science of the mouth and its dis- eases with emphasis upon the relationship to general body economy. The knowledge ac- quired during earlier years in the basic sciences is reviewed and utilized for the crit- ical study of oral disease. Every attempt is made to correlate instruc- tion current with the newer concepts and the philosophy stressed that continual study after graduation is essential for future progress. Through the Section of Oral Diagnosis it also serves as an interdivisional consultant group and emergency station. It strives to bring about a closer alliance between divisions thereby strengthening our teaching efforts. In addition to the scheduled undergraduate teaching, courses of instruction are arranged for all postgraduate students registered in the institution. n «- - G. Minervini W. Halpert. B.S.. D.D.S. A.B.. D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry Clin. Asst. in Dentistry Lewis R. Stowe. D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry Edward V. Zegarelli A.B., D.D.S.. M.S. Assoc. Prof, of Dentistry John D. Piro. D.D.S. Clin. Asst. in Dentistry Evald Linder Inst, in Radiolog 12

Page 18 text:

f-,. - Frank E. Beube L.D.S., D.D.S. Assoc. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry m Saul Schluger, D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry Wra. A. Theraann, D.D.S. L. Hirschfeld Asst. CHn. Prof, of A.B., D.D.S. Dentistry Asst. Clin. Prof, of Dentistry Robert Gottsegen A.B., D.D.S Asst. Prof, of Dentistry Ellen Hosiosky D.M.D., D.H., D.D.S Inst, in Dentistry Melvin L. Morris B.S., M.A., D.D.S. Inst, in Dentistry Lewis Fox. D.D.S. Asst. Clin. Prof. of Dentistry periodontia Dentistry has received meagre financial support for research in the past. Out of $130,000,000 expended on various investi- gations during the past year, only a little more than $100,000 of these grants were assigned for dental research. In spite of this inadequacy, considerable progress has been achieved since the formation of the American Academy of Periodontology in 1914 which marked a new era in the field of Peri- odontology. Terminology and classification of periodon- tal diseases has been relatively standardized and accepted by the profession, except for a few diehards who maintain their own nomen- clature. That further study is essential is rec- ognized by the American Academy of Peri- odontology and American Academy of Oral Pathology who have a joint committee study- ing this problem. Larger and larger numbers of papers and textbooks on periodontia and related subjects are being published. The physiology and pathology of the periodontium is better under- stood, resulting in the general agreement — that repair and reattachment of the support- ing structures of the teeth is possible after periodontal disease seemed to have caused irreversible damage. One of the most significant achievements in recent years is the development of precise periodontal technics for the successful treat- ment of even advanced periodontal break- down. It is now recognized that neither curettement nor surgical methods alone can successfully eradicate periodontal pathoses, but rather the application of different pro- cedures for the many conditions that develop around the teeth. Discovery of drugs which induce prolonged anaesthesia, the wider use of sedatives and antibiotics where indicated, has resulted in modifying the management of the periodontal patient in some dental offices. In lieu of short appointments and comparatively little done for the patient, the appointment sessions can be prolonged by the use of these new drugs. This has permitted the prescription and a bet- ter correlation of the restorative dental phase and the periodontal tissue phase of treatment. Many dental cripples can be rehabilitated within a few long sessions rather than by many short ones, by this method of dental practice. It appears that this will be the manner of handling patients in the future.