Training

Time required.—The length of time required to train men for mechanical dentistry may vary, according to previous education, experience and his type of disability. In many places the training is not done by classes, but through personal instruction, and the completion of the course lies with the aptitude of the student. The average time required is believed to be about one college year unless, as in some special cases, an intensive course of four months or so is instituted. These have been opened in some places. This refers to the time required when a course is taken rather than an apprenticeship in some laboratory of a private dentist.

Type of Training.—A course in mechanical dentistry is a practical one in which the student learns by doing. The work is demonstrated by a capable instructor, and then the students themselves do the actual work. There are a limited number of lectures, and an effort is made to give a sufficient fundamental knowledge for all the ordinary manipulations required in the trade.

After his course is complete, he will continue to improve his general knowledge and skill by further study. He must learn, if he is employed by a private dentist, the particular methods of his employer, and keep up with the new improvements described in dental text books and journals.

Course of Instruction.—The course of instruction in dental mechanics include the following subjects:

Model making.

Rubber plate making.

Anatomy of teeth.

Saddles.

Crown and bridge work.

Gold plates.

Lingual bar plates.

Aluminum plates.

Metal casting.

Orthodontia or regulating appliances.

Special Fields.—There are special fields in dentistry where the dental mechanic may adapt himself to a new class of work now very much in demand, that of dental radiography, or the taking and developing of X-ray pictures. Persons having had previous experience in any branch of photography will fit into this work easily.

Other special lines are the making of orthodontia appliances, gold and porcelain inlays, castings, clasps, bridges, and plates, crown and bridge work, and gold plate work.

Disabilities.—The physical qualifications and disability restrictions of a dental mechanic are not very exacting.

Persons with one good eye and the control and manipulative ability of both hands or at least two fingers and a thumb on each hand; defective hearing, with one or no legs (provided locomotion is not impaired), such diseases as hernia, kidney trouble, affections of the liver or heart will not be too seriously disabled to enter this profession.

Tuberculosis, on the other hand, is a serious handicap, both on account of the sedentary life, and because it might be difficult to secure or hold permanent employment because of the fear of contagion. Other infectious diseases would be more suitable to some other type of employment.

Very few vocations are open to such a wide number of disabled men. The opportunity for them seems to be one which will continue to increase with the increase in scientific dentistry, and the growing comprehension of the people of the important relation of the mouth and teeth to their general health.

Each of the following plans has a specially arranged list of occupations and business opportunities which have not been placed in the main index and should be consulted in connection with the index.

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Civil Service U. S., Index of Service—		Plan No. [217]			[100]
{	City, County, State and Federal Government,				[487]
{	Index of Service	Plan	No.	[830]-[907]	[503]
Forestry Pursuits—Index of Service		„	„	[910]	[509]
Wood Working Trades—Index of Service		„	„	[928]	[556]
Agriculture—Index of Courses		„	„	[938]	[563]
Agriculture—Index, Technical		„	„	[940]	[566]
Agriculture—Index, Experimental Station		„	„	[942]	[569]
Agriculture—Index, Extension Service		„	„	[943]	[570]
Navy Work—U. S. Index of Service		„	„	[1050]	[624]
Printing Trades—Index of Service		„	„	[1238]	[826]
Flour Milling—Index of Service		„	„	[1246]	[849]
Baking—Index of Service		„	„	[1247]	[857]