In the early part of the 1930’s the California Dental Association was separated between the Northern Association and the Southern Association. Meetings were held all over the State. The district dental societies were formed over several years according to the interest of the dentists in their local areas. The Northern California Dental Society was functioning in the 1920’s but covered mainly the areas between Sacramento and up through Redding.

A BIT OF TRIVIA!

In the early 1920’s a young man graduated from dental school in California, but was too young to take the Boards, so he went to the mining camps in Nevada and extracted teeth in hotels via the saloons! When he turned 21 he took the California State Boards, passed and moved to Chico to set up practice. He put up a large signboard on the highway into Chico advertising his practice. This set up a real furor among the local dentists and because of their Code of Ethics they did not allow him to practice. This dentist then devoted his energies into real estate and farm purchases. His family is still well known in the Chico area.

Meetings in the 1950’s and early 60’s were usually held on Saturdays with “table top” presentations. It was said that these meetings often carried on into the evening with dinner, card playing and imbibement!

The split between NCDS and Butte-Sierra Dental Society occurred in the late 1950’s when the trustee to the Northern California Dental Association, Dr. Hicock (who resided in Colusa) was asked to be President of the California Dental Association. Bad relations with him occurred when he was not asked to attend his district meeting as all CDA Presidents annually did. Dr. Hicock then arranged (without any notification) to have the areas south of Chico split off into its own dental society which split Butte County in half between two districts. Many dentists from Oroville, Gridley and Sutter County were very upset because they were not consulted about this change. This caused a lot of ill feelings be- tween the dentists. CDA later admitted that the correct parliamentary procedures had not been used.

In 1960 dentistry first became a covered benefit for welfare recipients. 1961-65 one local dentist was in charge of determining the appropriateness of care for these recipients. Because there was good renumeration for welfare care, there was considerable interest in who would be the local dentist that would direct these affairs.

The dental society was usually involved with this appointment, so with Butte County being split between Northern Calif. Dental Society and Butte-Sierra Dental Society, that among other things created the beginnings of ill feelings. The Paradise and Chico dentists didn’t like the split in Butte County, so for the next couple of years they applied to CDA to have Chico and Paradise broken off from NCDS and joined into Butte-Sierra Dental Society.

A meeting was set with the California Dental Association Executive Board to proceed, but by the time everyone arrived at the Meeting the Sutter dentists had decided against it. More ill feelings!

Interestingly enough, about six years ago, the Oroville and Gridley dentists were trying to succeed into NCDS!

This information was offered by Dr. Charles Soderstrom, Past President