The Smiles Have It (1940)

Here [music] comes the postman. Wonder if he's going to leave anything for the children. Sure enough, Mary Jane and Tommy Davis are glad to receive an invitation from their family dentist. He reminds them that it's been 4 months since their last dental examination. They both agree to make their appointment as soon as possible. On examination, Dr. Wilson believes that Mary Jane needs additional instruction in the home care she gives her mouth. Since the smiles have it, Mary Jane is glad to be shown how to improve her toothbrushing. Grasp the brush firmly. Let's pretend the dentist's fingers represent teeth. Now place the brush well up on the gums. Using a sweeping motion, brush lengthwise with the cracks. Let's watch Mary Jane try it with her new toothbrush. After dipping it in the powder, she vigorously brushes the outside and inside of all the upper teeth. And of course, she won't forget the chewing surfaces. With a fresh supply of powder, she does the same on the lower jaw. While cleaning Mary Jane's teeth, Dr. Wilson discovers a small defect in her first permanent mer. He tells her that he will have to correct this at her next visit. A small filling like the one in this model of a tooth will be required. Dentists call these natural defects pits and fissures. At the start, they are so small that even one toothbrush bristle is larger than the opening and cannot get in to clean it. It is therefore apt to decay and become larger. These conditions should be filled early before real decay begins. If not, more of the tooth is destroyed. The filling is larger and usually more expensive. Miss Young, the dental assistant, gives Tommy a book to look at while waiting. What are animals doing in a book about dentistry? Of course, their teeth have definite purposes, just as humans teeth. Tommy is so interested, Miss Young promises to take him and Mary Jane to the zoo on Saturday. Just think of all the animals they'll see. The purpose of this trip today is to compare animals teeth with those of human beings. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Now that we've seen the animals, let's see how our teeth do compare with theirs. As you know, the teeth in the front of the zebra's mouth are called incorers because they have sharp cutting edges like scissors. He uses them to snip grass. We use our incizers to bite foods like apples. Here is a tiger, a carnivorous or meateing animal. These pointed teeth are cuspids and these are human cuspids which we also have in the corners of our mouths to tear tough foods. The elephant is a herbiferous or grass-eeding animal. He has big, strong molar teeth in the back of his mouth. Mullers have broad chewing surfaces which grind food into small pieces for swallowing. Now that they have seen all the animals, it's a nice idea to sit in the shade and look at the chart. It will show you how our teeth resemble those of animals. In the front, just as with the zebra, are the inciser or cutting teeth. Being omnivorous, which means to eat both vegetables and meats, we have kuspid teeth. Just as the tiger, our mullers, while smaller than the elephants, play just as important a part in the grinding and chewing of food. And now let's have some lunch. Miss Young has given a lot of thought to this lunch, preparing appetizing as well as helpful foods. Cheese and milk furnish the calcium and phosphorus which help to build strong teeth. She has lettuce and tomato sandwiches made with whole grain bread. Our favorites, carrots and celery give splendid exercise to the jaws and teeth. Fruits which taste so good also supply many of the necessary vitamins and minerals. Now lunch is over and it's time to pack up the things. But where's Tommy? Oh, there he is. His attention has been attracted to the man working on a tree. He's a tree surgeon repairing a cavity in the trunk of that tree. In the book, there is a comparison between the filling of a tooth and the repairing of a tree. First the cavity is properly prepared then filled. Just as the tree surgeon fills the cavity in the tree, so should the dentist fill defects in the teeth. The cavities in this tree have been properly filled. The structure is practically as strong as before, but proper care and cleanliness must be observed if further decay is to be prevented. Just as is true in the case of teeth. As they leave this beautiful park, Mary, Jane, and Tommy tell Miss Young how much they have enjoyed the day. This journey into the land of littleknown facts about dentistry will be one long to be remembered. [music] [music]