DENTAL DECAY RESEARCH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28975, 17 August 1959, Page 13

DENTAL DECAY RESEARCH

Effect Of Soils Studied

"The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, August 16.

Headed by an American dental expert, a research team in Dunedin is determining the effect which different soils have on dental decay and types of bone conditions. Dr. Fred L. Losee, a captain in the United States Navy, has for 15 months been organising field work and sampling soil, as well as inspecting teeth. Stage I of his programme is now well advanced. Exhaustive tests were carried out in the Owaka. Cheviot and Hawarden districts, and a preliminary finding indicates that dental decay varies from town to town.

Next stage in the programmebased on a five-year study—will be the selection of an area for special studies. Investigation is carried out by representatives of the dental committee of the Medical Research Council and the soil bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The committee in charge of the programme is Professor J. P. Walsh (chairman). Drs. D. Davies. B. Bibby, Muriel Bell and Colonel J. Fuller, of Wellington.

Dr. Losee said available data and analysis would be obtained from soil, food, water, urine, pasture and teeth for mineral and trace elements in the selected areas. These would be checked against the rates of decay. Soft and hard tissues required nutrients during development, and it was hoped to find whether a lack of a particular element, its availability or its toxicity might lower or increase resistance of the enamel to decay and the gums to disease.