The Ohio State Dental Society held its sixth annual session in the
Senate Chamber, Columbus, O., Oct. 28th, 29th and 30th, 1890, and was
opened with prayer by Dr. Gladden.
Dr. W. H. Sedgwick, of Granville, O., delivered an address.
Fifty years ago the extraction of teeth was largely practiced. A man's
ability was gauged by his mechanical skill. Since then there has been
quite a change which has been wrought by the agency of intercourse,
societies and literature. He compared the cheap dentist to the
physician who would advertise, best prescription, fifty cents; medium
quality, fifteen cents; a lawyer who had best opinions, $9.00; poor
ones, 5.00; or a minister who delivers his sermons in job-lot style and
attends Sunday-school in the bargain.
Dental students should spend two or more years in office pupilage
before entering college and they should not be received at all unless
they agree to spend their time and attend the required college course
before practicing. The college should reciprocate and not accept a
student who has not had this previous pupilage.
Every practitioner should attend associations, and these associations
should be enlivened by clinics. All should take part, and the younger
members especially. We need a dental law in Ohio, and the time has come
to do something. It should be made unlawful to extract teeth which can
be saved. The dental profession does not investigate, read and study
enough. A post-graduate course would be a good thing for all.