Census Bureau Daily Feature for Tuesday, January 27: Dental Drill Patented.

WASHINGTON -- Profile America -- Tuesday, January 27th. An invention that's helped millions, but which no one really likes, was patented this week in 1875 -- the electric dental drill. Those who dread the device should consider the primitive state of dental technology before George Green of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was granted his patent. Today, the whine of the dental drill -- and that of the patient -- is heard less often. Americans are flossing more and generally taking better care of their teeth. As a result, the nation's dentists are spending more time treating gum disease and poor tooth arrangement than in filling cavities. There are about 196,000 dentists in the U.S. Our annual tab for visiting their offices is more than $38 billion, not covered by insurance. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.

Sources:  <
Chase's Calendar of Events 2009, p. 100
          <
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 128, 598
          <
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008/2008edition.html

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).