The Stark County Dental Society was organized in the banquet room of the
Courtland Hotel, Canton, November 4, 1909. Attempts to organize local dental
societies had been made prior to 1909, but all previous eff orts were short-lived.
The last one, the Tuscarawas Valley Dental Society left a balance of $8.75 which
was later turned over to the Stark County Dental Society. Its sponsorship was assured
by the newly organized Ohio State Dental Society. Twenty-two dentists from Stark
County were present at this organizational meeting and approved the Constitution
and Bylaws. Offi cers elected at this fi rst meeting were: Dr. J. H. Wible, President;
Dr. L.E. Menuez, First Vice President; Dr. L.W. Ballard, Second Vice President;
F. S. Manchester, Recording Secretary; Dr. C.L. Slutter, Corresponding Secretary;
and Dr. J.G. Foltz, Treasurer.
The Object of the Society was “To promote the public welfare and the advancement
of the dental profession by education, science, mutual fellowship and good feeling;
by union of eff ort with the other local organizations as component parts of the
Ohio State Dental Society, by the advocacy of proper legislation, and by the cooperation
with the medical profession in all matters of mutual interest and advantage to the
people of the state.” Thirty members signed before the Charter Membership Roll was
closed.
Four standing committees were established. 1) Executive, 2) Board of Censors, 3)
Membership and 4) Dental Education and Hygiene. The annual dues were three dollars,
of which two dollars went to the State Society.
At a second meeting held in the Courtland Hotel, the members decided to invite the
dentists of Carroll, Columbiana, Wayne and Tuscarawas Counties to join with the
understanding that all meetings were to be held in Stark County. The Wayne County
Dental Society became a part of the Stark County Dental Society in 1915. The fi
rst program at this meeting was a paper by Dr. Jackson of Cleveland on “High Pressure
Anesthesia” and a demonstration was presented.
The January and February meetings of 1910 were held in the offi ce of Dr. J.F. Dougherty.
During the next 4 ½ years they were held at the Courtland or McKinley Hotels. A
picnic meeting was held in Zoar on June 15, 1911. Beginning in 1915, the meetings
were held at the Elks Club. An outing took place at the Congress Lake Club in May
1916 with automobiles for transportation. Dinners were available at the Elks Club
in January 1916 for 75 cents a plate. A year later, a “dollar dinner” was tried.
Dues also went up to $6.50 in 1917 and $8 in 1919.
Early dental practices in 1909 had no running water or electric lights. Cuspidors
and gas were in use. X-ray was unknown in dentistry and there was little specialization
and no commercial laboratories. Forceps and cocaine were used. Office hours were
from 8 o’clock in the morning to 10 o’clock at night six days a week. Foot power
lathes and dental engines were still in use. Dr. J.F. Dougherty obtained an electric
engine about 1905, probably the first in Canton. Gold inlays were cast by the disappearing
model method. Nitrous oxide for general anesthetics began to be used before 1900.
Some local dentists made their own nitrous oxide. Vulcanite (rubber) was used for
dentures and silicates and gold foil for fillings. Copper cement and silver amalgams
were beginning to replace silicates. Educationally, not even a high school diploma
was necessary in 1909 to become a dentist, if one had certain subjects. By 1958,
one needed two years of college credit to gain admittance to a dental school.
In 1916 a dental clinic was established at the McKinley Avenue School (Bezaleel
Wells) by the Stark County Dental Society, giving free service. Two dentists, Drs.
J.W. McGlashan and M.F. Gruber were employed by the school board, each serving a
half day fi ve days a week. Later, Dr. Harter W. March, and after him Dr. H.W. McConnell
held the office.
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World War I stimulated many new ideas and methods in dentistry such as the use of
gold cast inlays requiring the electric casting engine. Dr. Karl Fischer of Germany
introduced novocaine for local anesthesia—a life saver for dentists. The United
States took over the German patent rights during World War I.
Specialization began during the 1919-29 decade and local dentists at the time had
a general agreement that the following became the fi rst specialists in their lines:
Dr. L.H. Tate in orthodontia (regulating irregular teeth), Drs. A.E. Becker and
H.F. Denzer in exodontia (extracting and dental surgery); Dr. R.D. Robeson in prosthodontia
(artifi cial substitutes); and Dr. Robert S. Porter in pedodontia (children’s teeth).
The depression decade, 1930-39, stimulated the socialization of dentistry as it
did of medicine and stirred new concern for children’s teeth. Techniques begun in
the previous decade came into general use such as X-ray, casting of gold inlays,
general and local anesthesia and the improvement of porcelains for plates. The Stark
County Dental Society continued to grow and the attendance jumped up to 81 in 1935
following a 25th Anniversary drive for new members, and meetings were shifted to
the Onesto Hotel to accommodate the group. The Dental Society organized a dental
clinic at the city auditorium to serve the poor during the low years of the depression.
Each dentist donated afternoon hours several times a year. The progressive character
of the Stark County dentists was shown by their bringing in some 45 speakers from
the outside to get the latest word on dental methods.
The 15-year war and post-war period, 1940-54, was characterized by new methods made
possible by perfecting plastics (acrylics), pioneer work in hypnosis in dentistry,
widespread use of X-ray, emphasis on children’s dental health, revival of root canal
therapy, development of the dental assistants’ organization, growth of Society membership
and interest and organized service to the World War II and Korean confl ict. While
fi ghting with the dental advertising laboratories on one hand, socialized dentistry
and friendliness amongst the profession was developing on the other. Dentists no
longer would patent processes; just gadgets and instruments only. The regular meeting
place from 1934 to 1947 was the Courtland Hotel. Other locations were the Mergus
and Sue Ming’s Restaurants.
In February of 1952 the Stark County Dental Society (then called the Canton Dental
Society) was responsible for fl uoridation in the city water supply during the presidency
of Dr. H.W. McConnell. This was expected to result in a 50-70% reduction in the
decay of children’s teeth. On November 4, 1959, the Stark County Dental Society
celebrated its 50th Anniversary at Brookside Country Club under the leadership of
Dr. Glenn Hostetler, President and Dr. C.L. Pressler, Program Chair. Dr. E.M. Riel
of Dayton gave a talk on his missionary work to Hindu patients in India.
During the early years of the Society, the business affairs were handled by the
elected Secretary. However, as membership grew, the duties of the Secretary became
so vast that the Society decided additional help was needed.
Therefore, on February 1, 1975, the Executive Offi ce was established at 901 Schneider
Road, North Canton, and an Executive Secretary was employed. In 1993, a condo space
was purchased at 4942 Higbee Avenue, Canton. In December 2009, the Executive Offi
ce will move to its new location at the Stark State College of Technology on Frank
Road in Canton.
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