Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-11-10
Going to the Dentist.
Expert Should Be Consulted Regular ~ Our National
Indulgence an Sweets Makes Big Dentist BIs--No
One Need Hove hres uLar, Ugly Teeth.
By MARGARET E. sANesTER.


As everybody knows, the peculiar
ly firm expression notice. ia .... so
traits OF zen. Washington is cue TO
the artificial teeth worn by the Fa-
Their of HIS Country In his day. dent
istry was ia its infancy, and the sew
eral processes Of removing and re-
placing teeth were crude and primi-
tive.
Among the various forward marches
of modern civilization nothing is
more marked and conspicuous for
good rosSlts than the progress OF
American dentistry. Somewhere
about 1912 that Indispensable article
of the toilet. the tooth brush, came
into common use. A society belle
visiting friends in Albany wrote to
her mother in Philadelphia that she
had received a singular and very use
ful present The present was a tooth
brush. and it was a curiosity to the
girl and her friends.
A little later than this period a
brilliant British essayist in a talk
addressed to workingmen, alluded
with scorn so the cGeminate practice
OF brushing the teeth. The teeth
OF a healthy man." he said, should
clean themselves" Certainly it may
be true that teeth decay faster and
last a shorter time among refined
and luxurious people than among saw
ages. Yet for all we know, the lat
ter may lose their teeth and say
little about it. accepting the loss with
resignation as a decree of fate.
\ very prevalent opinion. for ex-
ample. is 90 the effect that the red
man of the plains, with wide reaches
of earth and sky. retains his sight in
independence of oculists and glasses
long after HIS brother OF the white
race has parted with his and resort
cd to such help from lenses rs he
can get. This general impression is
not supported by evidence. Those
who are familiar with Indian life tell
us that blindness is common ar
Fiction in the wigwam and tepee. and
that the smoke from the fires on the
hearth is anything but good for the
eyes of old and young. similar
fallacy may bc the statement that
dentists would find little to do out
side OF civilization.
However that may be. there are
few OF us who have not more or less
experience in the disagreeable bust
ness OF sitting IN the dentists chair.
Toothache is the most nendish of tor
lures. An liberated tooth Is the
most malignant and excruciating an
TO which flesh is heir. when a dent
tUf
such "a tooth. in order that he may
save IL for it's owner. Il is well to
call up ones reserve forces OF pa
thence and make up ones mind that
for some days and nights he must
know what 60 Is so suffer ami be
suL or 10 suffer and complain: of
the suffering part he may be as
sured
Constantly ono secs in letters so
large that he who runs may read.
signs and placards attracting atten-
ton from Office windows and bearing
the legend. Painless Dentistry"
This must be taken with a Grain OF
salt Probably thcrc is comparative
~ painless dentistry AT this date. bur
as for absolute painless dentistry. IL
does not exist There is. OF course.
very great difference I'm the nervous
susceptibility of the dentists patients.
/ have friend VINO tells me that
her semi-annual visits % her dent
list are productive OF delight. She
anticipates them not only without a
tremor. but with actual pleasure. and
the buzzing thing that frightons me
and the hammer.ng and polishing and
other details that regard with Tor
ror only Pat her go sleep. Il take
delicious maps in the dentists chair"
she declares. with a smile
In making out the annual schedule
or domestic expenses. il is essential
10 leave margin for dentistry. How
mnch one VIII Inv. ~ ,.nr- LII. -. 1. -