*The highest tooth decay area in Louisiana is in and around the Greater New Orleans Area. The lowest Is that along the Mississippi river in the eastern section of the state.
These figures were quoted here Saturday by Dr. Leo J. Schoeny of New. Orleans, past chairman of the council on dental health, American Dental Association.
Dr. Schoeny was addressing the council on the first day of its two-day conference at the ; Roosevelt hotel.
| Lauding the use of fluorida»j-tion in drinking water, which he said has reduced tooth decay by 65 per cent in some in-| stances, Dr. Schoeny noted the ! finds of a recent epidemiologi-jcal study conducted in several i parts of the state,
"Where the fluoridation concentration ranged from 0 to 3/10 of a part per million, 97 to 100 per cent of all 16-year-old children experienced some dental decay," he said.
"The average 16-year-old had approximately 12 permanent teeth affected and had lost approximately two and one-half permanent teeth."
LOSS IS CUT
The dentist said that where one or more teeth were filled, the average 16-year-old lost only approximately one and one-half teeth.
"On the other hand," said Dr. Schoeny, "when there were no dental services, other than extraction, approximately five permanent teeth were lost."
Noting that sociological stu-idies indicate that in Louisiana a large percentage of the people don't have correct dental information, Dr. Schoeny said that if everyone followed four rules 90 per cent of the dental problems would be solved.
The four rules are: Proper brushing of the teeth, a proper diet, regular visits to the dentist and fluoridation of the water supply.
Dr. Schoeny also pointed out that some 20 per cent of the cancerous and pre-cancerous growths occur in and around the mouth.
"They are comparatively easy to get rid of it caught in the early stages," said Dr. Schoeny. 'And a dentist is equipped to recognize and diagnose it."
Dr. Ben Freedman of New Orleans, director of the division of preventive service, state health department, also addressed the group.
URGED TO LEAD He urged members of the medical and dental profession to assume more initiative in? community health programs.
Also appearing on the program were Dr. O. J. Morrissey of Lake Charles, a member of the sta*te board of health; William E. Noonan of Baton Rouge, supervisor, health and physical education, state department of education; Dr. Louis Fox ofi Baton Rouge, state department' of hospitals ;Dr. J. D. Martin, medical director, state department of public welfare; and Carroll Grouchy, Baton Rouge, executive assistant, department of institutions.
Dr. Edwin T. Brown III, of New Orleans, is general chairman of the council and Dr. PHOTO: LOOKING OVER the program for a two-day conference of the council of dental health, American Dental Association, are (from left) Dr. Leo J^Schoeny, Dr. Edwin T. Brown III, and Dr. Ben Freedman. The conference opened Saturday at the Roosevelt hotel.
