Old Missoula

Dentists Utilize Districting Plan

Arrival of the man believed to be the first dentist in Missoula, Dr. C. W. Lombard, who practiced here from 1876 until his retirement in 1903, preceded the formation of a local dental society by some 34 years.

It was about 1910, seven years after formation of the Montana Dental Association, that the Western Montana Dental Society was formed by a group of Missoula dentists.

Two years later the state association conducted its annual convention in the Garden City, apparently for the first time.

One of Missoula’s early dentists, Dr. W. F. Robinson, was a member of the first State Board of Dental Examiners, which was appointed in the 1890s. A daughter, Fanny, taught in Missoula grade schools for many years.

Changed to Fifth District

The name of the society was changed to the Fifth District Dental Society in 1922 after it was decided at the state convention in 1921 to divide the state into districts so that dentists could get together for clinics and discussions more often than once a year at the annual state gatherings.

Under the new districting plan dentists of this area had two clinics during 1922 to discuss latest techniques and to generally improve the profession’s work by an interchange of ideas. The Fifth District took in Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders and Mineral counties and parts of Flathead and Powell counties.

Officers of the Fifth District in 1922 were Dr. R. W. Beck, president; Dr. George Mallick, vice president, and Dr. T. T. Rider, who in 1960 began his 52^nd year of practice in Missoula, secretary-treasurer. These three and Dr. F. G. Dratz made up the executive committee.

Governor Greets Dentists

Gov. Joseph M. Dixon was on hand July 19, 1923, to welcome the dentists to the state convention here that year, the first time the state’s chief executive had performed such a function at a state meeting of the association.

The state convention also has been conducted here in 1912, 1928, 1934, 1941, 1947, 1953 (50^th anniversary session) and 1960.

Today the state is divided into 11 districts, and Missoula is part of the Second District Dental Society, which includes Missoula, Mineral, and Ravalli counties and parts of Lake and Granite counties.

Officers of the Missoula County Dental Society, which includes Missoula dentists and some from Ravalli and Lake counties, and also of the Second District Dental Society, are; Dr. William B. Bessire, president; Dr. Robert A. Hawkins, vice president, and Dr. Kenneth R. Hansen, secretary-treasurer, Dr. M. D. Laine is representative to the state association.