The Portland daily press., 1896-07-22
DIR. MILLER's ADDRESS.


DR.. Miller then delivered the annual
address, which took the form of an in
teresting paper upon 'The Progress of
Dentistry for the Past Fifty or Sixty
Years. Among other things he said in
substance: 1.-THE dentistry Of so years
ago consisted largely In the sacrifice of
the natural teeth for artificial, or more
often for none. No such thing was then
practised as the conservative treatment
of the natural teeth, in the broad sense
it is now practiced. The dentist, the
doctor. the barber and even the black
smith contributed their share towards
the universal slaughter of teeth. Teeth
are now being daily saved which were
then sacrificed. Dentistry, by it's pro-
gress, has demonstrated to the public
the value Of methods to save rather than
destroy. In the generally accepted treat
ment for the LIBERALIZATION of exposed
pulps, and the subsequent treating and
filing of pulp canals. 1t would seem to
have reached almost perfection in conser-
vative treatment. The growth of dentis-
try has proceeded along we'll defined
lines. DR.. Miller here traced the great
advance of the profession in it's various
branches, briefly mentioning many of
the more noted mechanical and medical
productions that had tended to the de-
velopment and the onward march of the
dental profession. The Doctor also allud-
ed to the great difficulty but compare
lively few years ago in obtaining any
thing like an adequate dental education
in this country. Until past the close of
Jackson's administration 10 public in
situations were to be found for the study
of dentistry. Now the profession pos
sesses probably 80, 900 practitioners and
half hundred dental colleges. Bigotry
has given way to liberality, and men,
bers of the dental profession working in
harmony place a higher estimate on their
for higher professional attachments
which will be sure to follow as men usu-
ally approach their ideals.
DR.. r. B. Miliiken, of Saco, read a
technical paper on "Onthodontia'' Of
great technical interest to members of
the profession. The paper was discussed
by DR.. Fl. A. Kelly, of Portland, DR.. l..
S. Ohicott, of Bangor, DR.. Z. J. Rob-
erts, Of Augusta, DR.. A. W. Haskell, of
Brunswick, and others.
At the evening session of the Maine
Dental Society paper bysDr. o. E. Was
gait Of Bangor, on Necrosis as it CO.
ours in Dentistry, was replete with a
ofio LODI for
the mem bers of the profession.
Prof. Fillebrown of Boston, presented
the subject of ths'' Relations of the From
tai Sinus to the Antrum. This paper
was illustrated with lantern slides from
selections showing the relation of the
antrum, the frontal sinus and the other
cavities of deface Disease of the an
trum was traced in many instances to
disease of the frontal sinu. DR.. Fillibrown
claims to have established certain rela-
tions of these parts and communications
between the frontal sinus and the an
tlum not before recognized. The paper
was entertaining and instructive In the
| highest degree. DR.. Fillsbrown also
gave lucid descriptions of certain plastic
operations in cases of cleft palate and
hare lip which gave very satisfactory
| results.
This will be the programme for today:
+. 9 a. m.-Meeting called to order. Paper:
| "Thoroughness in the Treatment and
| Filling of Bicuspids and Molars," Fred
II. Fales, d. D. S., Waterville; "What
Dentistry Owes the People" H. 4. Kel-
| ley. D. NJ. d., Portland; "Cataphoresis
in Dentistry" Percy r. Howe, D. D. S.,
| Lewiston.
| 10 q. m.-Eleotion of officers for 1896
unfinished and new business selection of
| place for the next meeting ad ournment.
| The state board of dental examiners