The effect of the selective service act on the profession of orthodontics

Abstract

T HERE have been a great many serious prol~lcms, with referenre to dentistry and national defense, which have engaged us in Washington. F’ew people understand what, it is all about, ; many hold me personally rcsponsihle for dentists being drafted in the operation of the Selective Service T,aw. I hare no more to do with selective service and the operation of that law than I do with the running of the police department of New York City. It is an entirely separate governmental agency, responsible solelto the President. Ke have taken a deep interest in the wclfarc of our profession. Pu~cly in an advisory capacity, to aid the Dental Advisory Committee appointed to assist Selective Service, the Dental Division. Surpcoll (ieneral’s Offiw. acts as liaison between the War Department and Selective Service insofar as it involves regulations gorcrning the dental problt~itis of inell induetetl into the Arnty, hut that is all. Looking into this problem of national defense and the ol)ligation of ever) American citizen, there suddenly dawns upon everyone, incaluding orthotlontists, the fact that, we as American citizens owe something to this countq-. IIo\vevcr, one cannot hell, but feel that as a specialized group in our profession of dentistry, as a health service, perhaps we in the American Association of Orthodontists have for many pars hecn assuming that one of the largest and most, beautiful aspect,s of health service is our scrvicc to children. I have gotten a thrill out of that, as many of you have, although I have pravticcd orthodontics a much shorter time than a great man>of you. One feels that he has rendered a service to our people, and that perhaps he has contributed in a wry, very definittr way to the we1 Fare of our nation as a whole. ~Tri~~~~cstiori~~l)l~ it is so. However, looking at this larper ronsidcralion of dentistry and dental health as an important aspect of our national welfare which goes beyond the bounds of national dcfensc, there comes a feeling that a special wnsideration must hc given to the orthodontic specialty. Here is Ihc reason : Early in this year a young orthodontist from the East, had an appointment with me, and ~amc to my office to tell me his story. Some few get in-1 presume it was hecause lie was an orthodontist ! This lad was of draft age. He had been in the l>ractico of orthodontics some four years havin, (‘1 at that time a large number of contracts for the treatment of children. He also had a low draft number and was about to lw called. He was inducted. At present hc is sewin g in the army as a private on i i nonprofessional status. He is rcndrring no particular serviw and the arm\. hencfits in no way through his professional training. Thcrc wer’c no means at that time which would defer dentists, or orthodontists, or t hc medical practitioners and specialists.