Dental Public Health Accomplishments and Predictions

Abstract

Back in the year 1943 we knew a great deal about the dental health of our people. Of the first two million men examined for induction into the armed services, more were rejected because of failure to meet dental qualifications than because of any other physical defect.' About one out of every 12 men examined was rejected because of dental defects. At that time we knew that the nation's children were receiving less than one-fourth of the dental services they required and that treatment needs were accumulating about five times as fast as they were being cared for. We knew there were not nearly enough dentists to serve the population adequately and that our dental schools