Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania Pamphlet Proselytizing Preventive Dentistry, by Drs. Morrison and Henry.

Advice on preventive dental care for children, prior to 1900 is scarce. In the 1890s, Drs. Morrison and Henry, two Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania dentists, cogently offered such advice in their promotional pamphlet, along with some lessons on life, as reflected by precious stones.

[Series: Caries prevention in historical perspective. Early treatment of carious lesions]. / Serie: Cariëspreventie in historisch perspectief. Vroegtijdige behandeling cariëslaesies.

In the Dutch Journal of Dentistry the opinion is often expressed that treatment of carious deciduous teeth is necessary to reduce the risk of dental caries in the permanent teeth. It is clear that early restorative treatment of caries lesions can contribute to the preservation of teeth. The question is whether such a treatment also has a primary preventive impact on other not yet affected teeth. Results of epidemiological research carried out in the period 1960-1980 do not support the view that it does. To combat the 'disease' caries in children restoration of carious teeth alone will not suffice. Professional oral care in young children should be focused primarily on removing the causes of dental caries by insisting on improvements in hygiene and diet.

"Karius and Baktus": A Critical Appraisal of Enger's Seminal Storybook.

Karius and Baktus, first published in 1949, is one of the most influential storybooks with dental caries as main theme and it remains in wide use for domestic health education. This study aimed at assessing oral health related contents of the historic storybook in the light of the current body of cariologic evidence. Two investigators independently identified phrases in the storybook with cariologically relevant content. Dental health related contents were systematically evaluated with respect to the current body of cariologic evidence. Karius and Baktus highlights important etiopathogenetic and preventive aspects such as sugars consumption and tooth brushing with toothpaste. Its behavior management techniques and narrative health didactics concerning dental care for children are, however, outmoded. The cariologic core statements in Karius and Baktus have remained valid whereas certain narrative features may have some drawbacks when employing the historic storybook for educational purposes for young children.

Ladybird books and Teeth.

In the 1970's, whilst working as a school dental officer, it became apparent that there were very few books available for young children giving information about teeth. This paper describes how the Ladybird books on teeth came into existence.

[Changing approaches to traumatic injuries to primary and permanent teeth based on the reports published in 'Fogorvosi Szemle' in the past 100 years]. / A tej- és maradó fogak baleseti sérüléseivel kapcsolatos szemléltváltozás jellemzôi a Fogorvosi Szemlében 100 év alatt megjelent közlemények alapján.

Most of the external forces hitting the body (automobile injuries, sport injuries, job accidents, falls, hits and fights) reach the head, and especially the oral and maxillofacial region. Statistics show the head is injured in more than 70 per cent of car accidents. The incidence of head injuries, specifically tooth injuries, is high among both infancy and school children. Authors give a review about the changing approaches of treatment principles in the reports published in the Hungarian dental journal 'Fogorvosi Szemle' in the past 100 years, and how today's modern treatment trends have evolved.

[State school - polyclinic in Petrinja (1925-1945)] / Drzavna skolska poliklinika u Petrinji (1925. ­ 1945.)

What has been researched and reconstructed, based on archival documents and data from professional literature, is the activity of the State school-polyclinic in Petrinja, from its foundation in 1925 to its termination in 1945. Key figures taking part in its activity have also been highlighted. Founded as one of the first school-polyclinics in Croatia, the State school-polyclinic in Petrinja developed complete preventive and curative health activities aimed at school population in Petrinja as well as at pupils from the village schools in Petrinja County. These activities were based on carrying out thorough check-ups, giving school children vaccination, and taking other counter-epidemic measures, providing health and sanitary education, exercising sanitary supervision of schools and pupils' homes, implementing remedial measures in the field, taking extra care of socially handicapped children, providing regular diet and healthy meals for the poorest (who got prescription glasses for free, as well as medicines, fish-liver oil, who got their teeth filled, hair cut and were given the opportunity to recuperate in the youth holiday camps at the seaside and in the mountains.) The activities also encompassed the efficient treatment of the sick, among whom the various infectious and internist diseases (anaemia, undernourishment, struma, rickets) and dental caries were prevalent. Its twenty-year-old continuous activity aimed at providing school population with health care represents a successful synthesis of preventive and curative health principles based on progressive ideas of social medicine promoted by Andrija Stampar, who was a promoter and reformer of public health service in our regions. Due to being well-organized and the professional enthusiasm of its managers and staff, the State school-polyclinic in Petrinja efficiently promoted public hygiene and addressed the specific health needs of the school population. While promoting integral health care, maintaining and improving physical and mental health of children and youth in the schools in Petrinja and the other schools nearby, it raised the reputation of health care in Petrinja and contributed to the development of the Croatian school of medicine.

Margaret McMillan: 'mother' of child health.

This paper discusses the work of Margaret McMillan. In particular, it highlights her efforts to improve the dental health of children in Deptford, London. Among her achievements was the opening of a health centre which included one of the earliest school dental clinics in London.

Levi Spear Parmly: father of dental hygiene and children's dentistry in America.

Levi Spear Parmly (1790-1859) was one of the outstanding dental practitioners and teachers in the early part of the eighteenth century, both in America and Europe. He published two highly regarded books, practiced and taught in London for several years, before returning to America, where he became the most eminent dental practitioner in the southern United States. He had great financial success and used his time and money to offer free dental service to children. His major contribution to dental science was the concept that dental caries was caused by external influences related to foreign material on the tooth surface. This was before our knowledge of dental plaque and the action of the oral bacteria. Based upon this concept, he stressed the importance of clean teeth to prevent tooth decay.