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

Page 15 text:

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.

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.

Page 16 text:

CARL R. OMAN, D.D.S. Professor of Dentistry OPERATIVE DENTISTRY Improvements in technique and materials used for impressioning prepared cavities for the reception of cast gold inlays have been a boon to dentistry. It is now possible to carry out the restoration for a tooth or a number of teeth with prepared cavities on a model outside the mouth, returning the finished restorations to the teeth, with a good assurance that the restorations will fit and that contour and contact will be just right. This has become possible because of the development of the hydrocolloid materials, the rubber base materials, the silicone gel and, in some instances, the alginates. They all offer a high degree of accuracy. Cutting of the teeth is possible with a greater de- gree of comfort to the patient and less strain on the dentist by use of several new methods. Firstly, by the use of increased speed of rotation of our present rotary instruments, a spray of water being played upon the tooth being cut to prevent abrupt tempera- ture rise and consequent pain. Speeds from 20,000 to 175,000 r.p.m. reduce tooth structure rapidly and with a minimum of trauma. The air turbine for pro- ducing rotary motion to the bur or disc is being tried as is the water turbine. With these methods, a stream of air or water strikes the blades of a small turbine situated in the head of the handpiece. Speeds up to 50.000 r.p.m. with a minimum of torque can be obtained in the bur or cutting tool by this means. The most revolutionary and probably the best of all the new methods is the ultrasonic dental unit which converts electrical energy into mechanical en- ergy in the form of 29,000 vibrations per second with an amplitude or working stroke of the tool tip of .0014 inch. These vibrations are transmitted to finely divided particles of aluminum oxide, sus- pended in an air water mixture, which is sprayed over the tooth. The particles are thus forced against the surface of the tooth and the shape of the tool in the handpiece is reproduced in the tooth. Bone conducted head noises, vibration, heat and a great portion of the pain usually experienced are thus eliminated. These changes in methods and materials result in a superior quality of service to the patient. By im- proving the quality of this service, we are fulfilling our obligations as a profession to a greater degree. It is our duty as dentists to keep abreast of research and development. We should be eager to appreciate and apply methods and skills which will contribute to the benefit of mankind. Dr. Carl Oman Irvin L. Hunt, Jr. Edward A. Cain, Jr. D.D.S. B.S., D.D.S. Harold Sherman William H. Silverstein Joseph M. Leavitt Joseph E. Fiasconaro B.S., D.D.S. D.D.S. B.S., D.D.S. B.S„ D.D.S. Herbert P. Fritz D.D.S. S. H. Brzutowicz D.D.S. Steven Scrivani James Benfield William Miller Kenneth C. Deesen D.D.S. D.D.S. D.D.S. D.D.S. 12 George Lyons Pandelis Camesas Irving J. Naidorf Gerald H. Besen Thomas Portway Marvin Firdman D.D.S. D.D.S. D.D.S. D.D.S. B.S., D.D.S. B.A., D.D.S.