Evening star., 1948-11-18
Letters to The Star
More Powers for Grand Jury Urged

More Powers for Grand Jury Urged
To the Editor Of The Star:
The recent letters In The Star pro and con
the grand Jury system were quite stimulating.
We need to examine this whole vital issue in
the light of experience.
The District grand jury could be immensely
improved if it would follow the pattern OF the
grand Jury system in many of the States.
There the grand jury possesses and employs
far more power than here There the grand
iury NAV institute far-flung investigations OF
public officials and public institutions. Many
of these investigations have been dlrectly re-
sponsible for producing much-needed reforms
as well as bringing to justice derellct puonc
officials.
However, here in the District OF Columbia
our public officials years ago succeeded In ham,
stringing our grand jury system to discourage
all investigation of public officials.
Why do we tolerate such omission OF duty on
the part of the grand jury advised by the
United States attorneys office? Let's really
put our grand juries to work for us!
GEORGE. j. LITTLETON
Dentist Indorses Sodium Fluoride
AS a practicing dentist, may I make an
observation in regard to your editorial on
sodium fluoride therapy in The Star OF No
vember 8?
Dentists as group share with you satls-
faction and enthusiasm over this recent
development in the field of preventive dentistry.
The profession is one big step nearer lts goal
of effectively controlling tooth decay eve have
no fear whatsoever of running out OF pa
tients." When we see daily how otherwise
intelligent and fastidious people ignore so
simple and inexpensive an expedient as a
toothbrush we cannot find the faith to foresee
the day when every tooth cavity has been filled
and false teeth are museum piecesD
Especially do all progressive dentists appre-
ciate the publicity being given this new venture
in childrens dentistry. The Star and other
publications introducing it to the public are to
be commended. However, may point out one
sentence in your editorial that may have an
unintended retarding effect? I find the same
fault with almost all popular magazine articles
on the subject You all emphasize the fact
that the sodium fluorde solution is very mex
pensive and simple to apply. This is absolutely
true But it is important to consider that
dental patient does not pay primarily for the
materials used in his mouth; he pays for the
dentists time and know how" Does surgeon
charge only enough to cover expenses OF su-
lures and wear and tear on the scalpel?
Proper Application Essential.
Proper application of sodium fluoride as
prescribed in all our dental literature, requires
that the solution be allowed to cry completely
on the teeth. 1t is not quick once-over as
with mouth wash. Each treatment requires
the better part of an average-length appoint
ment, especially if the child is very young
three-fourths frightened and one-fourth
Spoiled" Cor vice versaD. The parent should
be prepared to pay for such a proportion of
the operators time. To stress the inexpensive
nature of the solution itself can lead parents
to believe that their dentist will charge next
to nothing for his services. Consequently the
parent complains if the dentist charges more
than expected and eventually the dentist him
self becomes discouraged into cutting corners
to save time or into avoiding the treatments
altogether rather than argue with his patients
over dollars and cents.
To illustrate my point, in the small town
where practice am the only dentist in town
who is affording this service to his child pa
tients. All the others have told me: Frankly
can't afford to spend that much time when
the parents don't want to pay enough for 1t"
big city dentist told me, "Oh give the
treatments and don't charge much" Then he
COlQ me MS NeJIlOQ, Allu ltcl Sdlc Ill Say lliS
that those treatments are doing his little pa
tients no more good than so much bubble gum!
personally know this man Is good dentist
otherwise. He simply is presented with new
situation he does not know how to handle.
Parents come with a preconceived notion that
such series of treatments should be very
inexpensive" and, unfortunately for all con-
cerned-his patient dentistrys reputation, his
own integrity-he is giving poor service to
match poor pay.
All dentists are not old hard-hearted money
grabbers. Each dentist sincerely wants to do
good work for his patients. He cannot expect
them to realize fully all his problems of eco
nomics-the years of education, equipment ex-
penses, overhead, reserve against sickness and
old age, etc.-but he does have right to ask
pay for services rendered instead Of for only
the cost of incidental supplies.
In particular regard to sodium fuoride
therapy, parents can rest assured that indeed
the treatments are inexpensive enough for all
to afford. They may cost little more than
editors might suggest in view Of the mex
profession knows of no bigger bargain.
DR. w. 7. B.
Thoughts on Stanton Park
To the Editor of The Star:
It is here in beautiful Stanton Park in this
cosmopolitan city, known today as the leading
and most beautiful capitol city in the world,