The Anaconda Standard

WITH THE DENTISTS
Meeting of the State Board of Dental Examiners.
ONLY ONE ABSENT MEMBER
Finding Out What Applicants Know About Teeth and Their Aches-Will Adjourn To-Morrow Evening.

The state board of dental examiners met in this city yesterday. The board held a lengthy session at the Silver Bow club in the afternoon, and another at the office of Dr. J. W. Reed in the evening. The board is composed of Drs. W. E. Seuber of Helena, William A. Tudor of Bozeman, W. F. Robinson of Missoula, Charles S. Whitney of Miles City, and J. W. Reed of Butte. All of the members were present except Dr. Whitney of Miles City. The board was mainly occupied in finding out what applicants to practice dentistry in Montana know about the tooth-ache, and succeeded in giving them all the headache before they got through with them. Applicants are subjected to a very rigid examination, and it is the intention of the board to see that none but competent parties are permitted to dig at the teeth of the general public. The law which provides for the board of dental examiners, was passed by the legislature at its last session, and the object of the law was intended as a protection to the public and to regular dentists as well. Much damage which could never be retrieved has been done by incompetent persons acting as dentists, operating on teeth. The law was approved March 12 last, and makes it unlawful for any person, not at the time of the passage of the bill engaged in the practice of dentistry to engage in such practice unless he shall have obtained a certificate. The members of the board must be practicing dentists; they are appointed by the governor, and hold office for five years. The act provides that within four months of the time the act takes effect it shall be the duty of every dentist to register his name with the board in which event he will receive a certificate without examination and may continue to practice without incurring any of the penalty of the act. The fee for a certificate is $3. Any person desiring to practice dentistry after the passage of the act must present a diploma, must have practiced dentistry three years or been a bona fide student that length of time, and shall pass an examination. The examination includes anatomy, physiology, chemistry, dental medicine, metallurgy, histology, pathology, operative, surgical and mechanical dentistry. If the examination is satisfactory the board issues a certificate. The applicant for examination must pay a fee of $15 and a fee of $10 for each diploma presented for approval. In no case are fees returned. Each registered dentist must in addition pay a fee of $1 as his annual dues. Each member of the board is entitled to compensation of $5 for each day actually engaged in duties of the office together with all legitimate expenses incurred in attending the meetings of the board. Any person practicing dentistry without a certificate or otherwise violating the provisions of the act is deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined $50 to $200 or one to three months' imprisonment, or both. The board held its first meeting May 10 last in Helena. It was then organized Dr. Seuber being chosen secretary. Arrangements were made to issue certificates to practicing dentists and for the examinations of applicants in Butte at the present meeting. Since the meeting last May the board has issued certificates to 105 dentists in Montana which includes about all who were practicing dentistry at the time of the passage of the bill. Two applicants were examined yesterday-William M. Fox of Bozeman and A. L. Farnell of Butte. Others called on the board to inquire about the matter and it is likely that a number of others will be examined Monday, when the board expects to adjourn.