University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School - Mirror Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

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THE specialties. I would mention orthodontia, oral surgery, prosthesia and prophylaxis. There are also MIRROR specialists in pyorrhea — ah ' eolaris, etc. The dental association is an instrument oi undoubteci value in professional development, and I would not underestimate the tremendous influence for ad ' ancement exercised by the local, State and national associations. Dental journalism has also fulfilled its mission nobly. It has given us a literature without which dentistry could never lay claim to the dignity of a profession. Another step in the line of progress is the favorable action of Congress in passing a bill providing for dental surgeons in both the Uniteci States Army and Navy, giving the dental surgeon equal standing with the medical corps of the same rank. What promises tp be the greatest campaign ever organized for the abolition of disease has recently been organized by the dentists of this country — the Oral Hygiene Mo ' ement. This work is well under way, and in many of our large cities oral and dental examination of all school children is being made, and the movement is receiving official recognition of regularly constituted State health authorities. The object of this movement is to enhance the health of the human race through dental hygiene; nor can it be doubted that the accomplishment of this work will redounci to the credit of dentistry and tend to more securely place Its ministrations among the benefactions of mankind. Hospitals are now opening their doors to dentists, and in many of the large cities there are dentists on the medical staff. I would not overlook the X-ray or underestimate the important part It now has in dental operations. The establishment of dental research laboratories is also significant in the advancement of dental science. I will make no further mention of the progress of dentistry up to the present time, although much more could be said, but I challenge any profession to show more advancement and progress than that made In dentistry In recent years. It is simply marvelous. Let us now consider the future of dentistry. It is always hazardous to attempt to prophesy. But already we stand in the shadow of coming events, and it is not difficult to discern some of them. The future will see advancing professional and educational standards and higher preliminary edu- i6

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towiird the close of the sc -entecnth ccntur . Jor nwuiy years immediately follo ing the iuuehurd cr.i THE no notable e ents mark the progress of dentistry. There were, however, during this period many cmi- MIRROR nent practitioners and writers, such as M. De Chemant and Bourdet in France: John Hunter, Blake and I ' o in P ' .ngland, and John Woofendale, Joseph Lemaire, John (jreenwooii, Horace H. Hayden and otliLTs in our own country. These gentlemen, together with many others, kept ali e an unorgan- ized profession, and not onlv sa ' ed a most useful and beneficent calling from utter obl; ion, bur pre- pared the way for the momentous e ents soon to follow. In 1839 the first dental college was established — our College — the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. Prior to this time no orderly or organized instruction was gi en; all kinds of men coulti practice dentistry, but from that moment dentistry was established upon a scientific basis — that is, it was for the first time efficiently taught upon the general principles upon which medicine is lounded. with the addition of special manual training, and therefore its future was secure. The little candle then lighted by Dr. Chapin A. Harris and Dr. Horace H. Hayden has now become a glowing flame which shines throughout the oi-lil. Other schools of the same character were eslablishetl until there are now about sixty dental colleges in our own country. So great has been the athancement antl progress in dental education that whereas not man years ago anyone who hati served as an apprentice for a while with a preceptor was eligible to g i into practice, now the rei]uirements are a complete high-school education before entering college, a three- years ' course at the dental college, and after graduation a satisfactory examination before the exam- ining boards of the different States. In some States the requirements are e -cn more rigid, and in Virginia a bill has been passed requiring that all applicants foi ' the practice of dentistry in that State must ha e the degree of M.D. as well as D.D.S. Such is the high estate into which dental education has come. i ' .ach car shuws marked ad aiicemciit in dental science and presents in increasing number its inno- ations and impi-o emeiits. So rapid has been the progress that books ani.1 instruments ot toilay are tomorrow almost obsolete. So great has been the development of the arious elements that enter into It or ha e grown nut of it that it has become necessarw in large cities at least, to (.li ' ide its practice into

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catlonul requirements, larger and more scientific li-erature, dental libraries ui reference, and a general THE uplift in social and professional dignity. We will also see a more cordial co-operation and consultation .MIRROR between the medical and dental professions in their mutual ministrations for the relief of suffering humanity. ihe future will see a greater demand for the ser ices of the dentist than e er before. Ihe number of gradiiates from the dental colleges today is not equal to the demands of the people. Painless dentistry must come even as painless surger} ' came. The demand for anesthetics or obtunding agents in dentistry is far greater than that in the medical profession. The age oi prc -enti ' c tlentistry is upon us. Preventi -e treatment, both in mcilicine and dentistry, is sought on e -ery hand, and the dentist of the future will gi -e more attention to prophylaxis for the prevention of dental lesions instead of spending all of his time at repair and patch work. Practical immunity to dental caries, pyorrhea — aheolaris and other oral diseases is not a Utopian dream. The future development of dentistry will require a more minute knowledge, on the part of the dentist, of the human body and its workings in health and disease. The border line between dentistry and medicine, which was -ery broad not many years ago, is narrowing down to a line that will in the near future be practically eliminated. I ha ' c traced imperfectly the progress of dentistry through many ears of its de elopment and ha ' C also prophesietl as to its future. Poday we sec it in its high estate, the peer of any of the learned pro- fessions and pre-eminent in its tangible and definite benefactions to humanity. It has become a neces- sity, indisi)ensable. It contributes inestimably to the comfort, the health, the adornment and longe -ity of the race, and its opportunities for ser ice to humanity are unlimited. c v professions ramify to the extent of dentistry. 1 cw professions exact tribute of so many others. Few professions require for their excellent service men ol as aried accomplishments, general knowledge and ersatility. Pherc- loi-e, when we lca e our Alma Matci , with a firm rcsoKe to make the most ot our opportunities, and master our chosen prokssion, wc will then ha c laid the best anil most enduring ol all Inundations for progress. E. S. W. 17