In 1921 a small group of dentists, school teachers, philanthropists and members of Parent Teacher organizations sponsored several dental surveys' in Atlanta schools. These surveys were soon adopted by other cities and counties. In 1923 the U.S. Public Health Service sent a mouth hygiene unit to 17 Georgia counties to survey the teeth of school children. In 1927 the Georgia Dental Association recommended establishment of a dental hygiene section in the Department of Public Health, and in 1928 an oral hygienist was employed by the department to perform dental surveys in the counties. By 1932 the Director of Public Health Department realized that the only way it.would be possible for the hygienist to reach all school children was to organize the dentists, school teachers and Parent Teacher organizations into a cooperative project and to use the oral hygienist as an organizer and educator. Since that time the Director of the Dental Health Branch has pursued the following programs for the promotion of better dental health care: (1) promotion of a fluoridation program; (2) construction, financing and staffing dental clinics; (3) preparation and distribution of educational materials to dentists, school teachers, children and other interested citizens; (4) coordination of efforts with dentists and dental associations to plan future programs for the Department.