The Washington times., 1918-07-17
DENTISTS GIVE TO
ARMY HALF MILLION
FREE OPERATIONS

NEW YORK. July 1I.-one-half mil
lion operations free is the- achieve
ment OF the Preparedness League OF
American Dentists, an organization
comprising more than 5000 dentists
in the United States. They have pledg.
ed themselves to give at least one
hour Of their time daily. including ma
terials, to men selected for the army
navy, and marine corps.
The Preparedness League, started
By DR.. J. w. Beach, of Buffalo, now
It's president, is under the direction OF
Director General DR.. Charles F. Ash,
New York, and is being carried on
with the approval and cooperation OF
the provost marshal general and the
surgeon generals OF the army and the
navy. Dental colleges throughout the
country are contributing their serv-
ices, equipment, and materials to help
in the work
One Dentist to 1000 Men
According to the present law, only
one dentist is allotted to every loo
men in the army. The league is sup
plementing this work OF making re
eruits dentally fit, by making not only
Filings and extractions, but by sup
plying thousands OF crowns and
bridges free Of charge, In this way
many thousands of men, who had less
than the minimum dental require.
ments to fit them for general military
service, are able to be indicted into
the service.
It has been estimated that II the
mouths OF American soldiers be kept
clean and free from diseased teeth
the men in hospitals because Of dental
infections will be available for service
In the trenches, and the extra beds
win be available for men wounded in
war. Statistics from hospitals at the
front, announces the league, show thai
20 per cent Of the men in the sick
wards are there because Of diseases
arising from infections from diseased
teeth. 81
The league has estimated that on
the basis Of an eight-hour day, the
average dentist OF the organization
gives II per cent 81 his income to
his country, plus his materials be-
sides the many civilian contributions
which he makes to patriotic cam
paignA Some dentists give two and
three hours time daily.
League Expenses Light.
There are 4s.664 dentists In the
Omitted States and the league Is try
ing to obtain Hooper cent member
ship at 81 a year. The only expense
ia for the distribution OF literature
and correspondence
Most OF the energies Of the league
viii be devoted 70 men qualified for
These are the men, explained
DR.. Ash, ~who viii do the actual
fighting and who must live in the
trenches, and who consequently are
more subject to sickness and infec-
ton The most important thing to
do for these men Is to rid their
mouths Of bad roots and infected
teeth, or any tooth having q history
Of periodical abscess. The lack Of
the minimum number Of teeth does
not excuse any man from military
service. but only from general mill
tary servicei A man may be accept
ed for Limited Military Service even
IL he has no teeth
"In all the states, dentists have
been appointed members of the medi-
cal boards, thus enabling Corpora
ton of physicians and dentists. On
every local board in the United
States, dentists who have volupteer-
ed their services have been appoint
ed. Il is the duty OF these men TO
examine the mouths and teeth OF
the registrants and send those certi-
fled for general military service TO
members OF the Preparedness League
who are prepared TO give them free
dental service"