[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MICHIGAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

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                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an organization in 
Michigan that single-handedly brought dentistry from a journeyman's 
trade, as it was called, to a respected profession. The Michigan Dental 
Association, MDA, will celebrate 150 years of being the foundation for 
the education of dentists and professional development of their health 
care specialty on March 1 of this year. The MDA is the oldest 
continuous State dental society in the United States.
  What began as 14 dentists venturing to Detroit on horseback through 
the harsh Michigan winter on January 8, 1856, would far surpass their 
dream of creating an association of dentists to elevate the 
significance of their medical profession. The MDA first pursued their 
dream by promoting education and professional standards by requiring 
all members to be graduates of dental school. Finding it difficult to 
demand such a requirement without a dental school in the State, they 
worked with the Michigan Legislature to appropriate funds to start a 
dental school at the University of Michigan.
  In the MDA's endless quest to raise the reputation of the dental 
profession, they began working in 1867 toward legislation that would 
require dentists practicing in the State of Michigan to register with a 
State board of dentistry, weeding out those practicing unauthorized 
methods. In 1883, Governor Josiah W. Begole signed the first dental 
practice act to enact such requirements.
  Membership of the MDA grew at rapid rates during the late 1800's and 
early 1900's due to annual meetings, the inclusion of local dental 
groups in the state and the publication of a monthly Journal, still in 
circulation today.
  In the 1930's during the Great Depression, the dental industry was 
hit hard along with the entire economy. However, the MDA made a strong 
recovery by helping recruit dentists for military service as well as 
finding ways to ensure local communities had dental service. Throughout 
the 1940's and on into the 60's the MDA took up a number of causes 
including the promotion of community water fluoridation and promoting 
employer-paid dental coverage and third party plans, which eventually 
led to expanded dental coverage in Michigan.
  The 1980's served as an opportunity to continue the MDA's pursuit of 
higher professional standards for their profession. A campaign began in 
1984 to advocate the importance of dental care and to urge the public 
to visit their dentist every 6 months, a now widely accepted practice. 
The MDA worked to mandate continuing dental education for licensed 
dental professionals, further accomplishing their goal to promote 
education in the profession.
  Mr. Speaker, the Michigan Dental Association has represented the 
profession of dentistry and the professionals it serves exceptionally 
well with foresight and vision over the last 150 years. They have 
successfully taught America that the importance of good oral health is 
key to overall health. With over 75 percent of Michigan dentists as 
members, the MDA continues to focus on their message of ``Dental Care 
is Primary Care'' and work with the State of Michigan to ``promote 
professional ethics, dental coverage to the uninsured and 
disadvantaged, and to monitor in the disciplinary process.'' With those 
values in mind, I ask the United States House of Representatives to 
join me in congratulating the Michigan Dental Association and its 5,801 
members--2005, on their sesquicentennial celebration of raising the 
standards of the profession of dentistry in Michigan and the United 
States. I wish them all the best in the future toward another 
successful 150 years.

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