JANUARY 1968 EDITORIAL
The Centennial Celebration:
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
By Vincent G. Lawlor, DDS
This year, 1968, dentists have the privilege of participating in the
Centennial Celebration of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. It is
a once in a lifetime opportunity.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Between now and the celebration
of PDA’s 150 th Anniversary in 2018,
we will be featuring reprints of
Pennsylvania Dental Journal
editorials from the past.
This issue features the first two
in a series of “throwbacks” from
previous editors.
One hundred years ago a small group of dentists met in Philadelphia
and formed a dental society. They had little to guide them in their
efforts, for there were only a few dental societies in existence. The
national association, which is now the American Dental Association,
was founded only nine years earlier in 1859. The success of the
venture could not be based on a foundation built from the
experiences of other dental organizations, but depended solely
upon the courage, the dedication and the wisdom of the men who
made up this founding group. The continued growth and the
development of the society would rest with the leaders of the
dental profession who over the years would be sincere in their
beliefs that the better service could be given the public through
a dental group that was organized.
On the 100 th anniversary of the birthday of organized dentistry in
Pennsylvania, it is important that we reflect upon the events of
yesterday. It is right that we honor the men whose achievements and
contributions gave us the Pennsylvania Dental Association of which
we are proud. In reviewing the history of our heritage, if we are
endowed with the wisdom and the prudence of the founders of
our society, we shall benefit from the experiences of the men we
honor in our Centennial Celebration, and use to the advantage of
the entire dental profession the lessons which we have learned.
Dr. Vincent G. Lawlor of Abington served as editor of the
Pennsylvania Dental Journal from 1968-1971.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1980 EDITORIAL
Challenges of the 1980s
By Marvin Sniderman, DMD
For as long as I can remember those of us who are involved with
dental associations and dental society administration have been
acutely aware of the problems of the practicing dentist and the
many threats to private practice. We have made every effort to try to
help solve and prevent future problems. The constant roadblocks
seem to be bumpier and harder to deal with. And Charles
Dickens’ “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,”
doesn’t really hold as we enter the decade of the 1980s
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