Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-11-04
VOL. 4.--N0. II.
THE TEETH.

THE TEETH.
To the Edifor of the Deafal Netrs Lctfer:-It
appears to US, non-professional judges in the
matter, that a greater interest in the health
i and well-being of tbs teeth, might be promo
| ted through some professional inducements to
the people to have their teeth frequently ex-
amined by the dentist. There is, indeed, as
much inducement held out, as professional
courtesy can do for it. But people are, in gen.
eral, aversc to troubling their dentist, merely
to inspect their teeth, particularly if they have
to go far to see him, without a certainty that
there Is need of an operation. And, if the
nearest dentist is not their dentist, they do not
like to ask him for an opinion on matter in
which he is not to be the operator. We should
think it would be well for dentists to make it
part OF their stated avocation, to examine
teeth, apart from the question, who is the dem
tist of the consulting parties, and to make
little charge for SO doing If such was to be-
come more common practice, people need
have no hesitation about consulting, for such
purpose simply, any neighboring dentist;
and the latter would never consider himselfa as
being for that sole reason the dentist of these
parties; he could not feel slighted, if not ask
ed to perform the operation which he may
have pronounced to be necessary or advisable.
Moreover, dentists without practice might thus
be very useful, and earn something for being
so while, at the same time, itinerant dentists
of doubtful reputation, would have to be care
full what opinions they give TO those consult
ing them, as the opinions would be liable to
exposure; and they would also be less expo
sed to the temptation of giving wrong advice,
since they would be entitled to the fee in any
case, for mere inspection OF the teeth.
ONE WHO VALUES Coon SET OF TEETH.
The above intelligent communication, says
Professor WHITE, expresses the view that all
well-informed dentists ought to take of their
duties TO the public. Doubtless there are ma
ny dentists as well patients throughout this
country and Europe, who can bear testimony
to the fact that we have recommended our pa
tients when going away from US, to consult in
due time, the nearest dentist in order to de-
tect in time the condition of their teeth, rath-
er than wait for their return to their family
dentist. We can also inform our correspon-
dent that what he suggests has been the prac-
tice of very large number of the properly in
formed dentists throughout the United States
for many years. But We do not know of thero
ever having been charge made in a single in
stance for such services; we have been offered
fee for such services on many occasions by
liberal persons, but we have always under such
circumstances remarked that we did it as ci-
Witty to their family dentist believing that
he, when called upon by any of our patients,
would do the same for us. If persons who are
far away from their family dentist, would call
upon the nearest one, introduce themselves as
DR.. So and Sos patient, and merely wish their
teeth examined precaution, our word for
it, there is no one We ever met with in our pro-
fession that would not be willing to give few
minutes of his time cheerfully to inspect the
mouth of the applicant without charge.