FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2012) -- U.S. Army Dental Activity's Stone Clinic recently played host to a special visitor, who donated artifacts on behalf of DENTAC and the 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum Soldiers it serves.
Michael F. Cadin, DDS, a former Army dentist who retired from private practice in Syracuse last September, visited the DENTAC, along with his brother, John Cadin, who works as a behavioral health provider assigned to the USA MEDDAC Preventive Medicine Clinic.
At DENTAC, Michael Cadin met with Michelle Zegarelli, supervisory administrative officer. He then took time to set up a display case in the main lobby and went on a brief tour of the facility.
"I was a captain in the Army stationed at the MEDDAC unit at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., after I graduated from Georgetown (University) in 1972 and until my discharge in 1974," Cadin said, recalling his Army experience. "I had two temporary duty assignments while on active duty -- one at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco and the other at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C."
During his visit, Cadin donated an antique oak display case and several hundred antique dental materials. This included tooth paste, toothbrushes and denture creams, as well as dentistry devices -- some of which are more than 100 years old -- to name a few. He also donated a dental articulator and surveyor, dental advertisements, and other framed items that reflect dentistry through the ages, as well as textbooks.
"Now that I am retired, I do not need the cabinet, and I don't want to keep these antiques in storage," Cadin said. "I had a wonderful Army experience, and I just wanted to give something back.
"I think everybody that sees the display will appreciate a little more the history of dentistry and hopefully will be amazed at how far we have progressed. I hope everybody enjoys viewing this dental display as much as I have collecting it over the years," he said.
For DENTAC, the display has significant meaning.
"The display signifies the long history, not only of the profession of dentistry itself and the many advances in technology and dental materials that have occurred just in the past century, but of the long and storied history of the U.S. Army Dental Corps itself," said Col. Michael P. Mahoney, commander of USA DENTAC, Fort Drum.
"For example, the Stone Dental Clinic is named after Col. Frank Powell Stone, who was one of the original 30 contract dentists of the U.S. Army Dental Corps and ultimately one of its corps chiefs. Practicing early in the 20th century, Col. Stone probably used many of the dental materials and instruments seen in the display.
"In effect, the contents of the display are a reminder of the advances in dentistry that the Army Dental Corps itself has been witness to over the years. No doubt, Soldiers arriving at the Stone Dental Clinic will be drawn to the display due to its uniqueness and the long tradition of Army dentistry that it represents."
In retirement, Cadin indicated he is still involved with doing dental work at a local nursing home in Syracuse, as well as with volunteer work at a Rotary Club and trail maintenance at a nearby state park.
The visit to Fort Drum and DENTAC was special for both Cadin brothers; their dad was assigned here during World War II.
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