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

Page 14 text:

LEWIS R. STOWE, D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry Director, Division of Stomatology Oral Diagnosis STOMA EDWARD V. ZEGARELLI, A.B., D.D.S., M.S. Associate Professor of Dentistry Acting Director, Division of Stomatol- ogy No one would disagree with the statement that accurate diagnosis is the essential prerequisite to successful therapy, but many will disagree on the meaning of diagnosis. Some will define it as the ability to recognize the existence of an abnormality — a departure from normal. Others look upon diagnosis as the skill of an individual in identifying an abnormality. Neither definition, however, completely satisfies the implications of diagnosis if we are to adhere to the principle that accurate diagnosis must precede successful therapy. A child possesses the ability of recognizing the existence of an abnormality when confronted with a person whose facial contours are asymmetrically enlarged. But he would hardly be expected to ap- preciate the nature of the many disease entities which this abnormality might suggest. Identification of an abnormality also falls far short of accurately defining diagnosis. The simple process of identifying by name a disease state on the basis of its overt clinical signs hardly fulfills the meaning of diagnosis. To adopt this approach to diagnosis is similar to the belief that recognizing or identifying an individual by name signifies that you knoiv that person. Identification of a person hardly means that you are familiar with his character, his emotional status, his tastes and distastes, his feelings and attitudes. Similarly, in respect to diagnosis — diagnosis is more than recognition of the existence of an abnor- mality — diagnosis is more than identification of a diseased state — diagnosis is knowing the abnormal- ity thoroughly and intimately. Diagnosis is knowing the cause of disease; diagnosis is knowing its histo- genesis, its clinical signs and symptoms, its histology and roentgenology, its effects on the various body systems and its prognosis. Not only will the prob- lem of diagnosing a disease become simplified but, following this philosophy of diagnosis, scientific and accurate therapy is almost certainly assured. Dr. Edward Zegarelli Marcella Halpert D.D.S. Lester E. Rosenthal D.D.S. Joseph Serio D.D.S. Lawrence Damn D.D.S. Howard Sanborn D.D.S. Herbert Silvers Austin H. Kutschen D.D.S. D.D.S.

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Dr. Maurice J. Hickey devoted over eleven years to Columbia University. He was made Professor of Oral Surgery in 1945 and Associate Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Dental and Oral Surgerv three years later. He held this position until October 31. 1956 fulfilling the duties of his office with exactness and integrity. e. his former students, are certain Dr. Hickey will bring dignity to the office of Dean of the School of Dentistry. University of Washinaton.

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rOLOGY Pmodontology The modern professional man, whether in den- tistry or medicine, is respected by the general public and his patients because they are cognizant of the many years of arduous study necessary to attain the high quality of his specialized knowledge. Upon graduation the present trend for the major- ity of dentists will be to enter either private practice or the armed forces. This necessitates the making of decisions for their patients without guidance or su- pervision by instructors. The recent graduate is well equipped to diagnose, plan and prescribe treatment for many dental disorders, because he has been in- structed in the fundamentals of the art and science of dentistry. However, there will be sufficient num- ber of complicated periodontal and occlusal prob- lems which would unduly burden the recent gradu- ate if he attempted therapy without advanced train- ing. All dentists should continue their studies shortly after receiving their dental degree. This is the ideal time, since they are accustomed to study and geared for learning. Furthermore, it is the professional re- FRANK E. BEUBE, L.D.S., D.D.S. Clinical Professor of Dentistry sponsibility of every dentist to constantly enlarge the scope of his dental knowledge in order to adequately minister to his patients. Periodontal diseases and dental caries are the most common dental abnormalities and will con- stantly require the dentist ' s attention. Periodontal disturbances rank first as the cause of edentulous mouths. It is paramount, therefore, if dentists wish to prevent the loss of their patients ' teeth and suc- cessfully treat the varied periodontal lesions, that they broaden the basic education received at dental school by continuing their studies in periodontology through adequate reading and from postgraduate courses. Dr. Frank E. Beube Saul Schluger D.D.S. Lewis Fox D.D.S. Leonard Hirschfeld A.B., D.D.S. Melvin Morris B.S., M.A., D.D.S. Robert Gottsegen A.B., D.D.S. Ellen N. Hosiosky Bernard H. Wasserman Seymour Algus D.M.D., D.D.S. D.D.S. D.D.S. Irving R. Stern B.S., D.D.S. Norman Joondeph D.D.S.