Higher Value On Dentistry Urged

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 1

Higher Value On Dentistry Urged

Many dentists undervalued dentistry, and if they continued to do so they would be left far behind in today’s world. Dr D. Beach, an American dental expert who teaches at Tokyo University, told the fourth biennial conference of the New Zealand Dental Association in Christchurch yesterday.

More and more people who were having their needs satisfied would rank dentists low if dentists so ranked themselves, said Dr Beach, who is internationally known for his work on time-and-motion studies and management applied to dental practice. Dentists should work in the

most beautiful and most comfortable environment possible, he said.

“I am puzzled by the austere circumstances in which many dentists continue to work,” Dr Beach added. The effect of this on the dentist and on the patient was important. Patients wanted to know the problem, what was .planned to meet it, why, whether it would hurt, the cost, how they would feel and how long this would last, and how long the treatment would take.

“If these questions are answered at the outset, there will be very few misunderstandings with dentists,” Dr Beach said. “It is important to have a room for consultation—one with a good mood.” He favoured offering the patient the best dentistry available on contract, rather

than for fees payable for each appointment. Even if treatment was to cost from $lOOO to $2OOO this should be stated at the outset; experience had shown that the patient would accept this and was interested in getting it done as quickly as passible. “This way it is only one big shock, rather than a series of small ones,” said Dr Beach “Many patients say they cannot accept the full treatment plan, but in six months they return asking for it” In England he had been questioned about the $3OOO charged to a retired plumber, aged 72, for a full mouth reconstruction carried out in South California. But this man would be in comfortable circumstances, would have owned two or three new cars and would be receiving superannuation. Dr Beach said.

When persons reached this age nothing was more important in their lives than a good, comfortable mouth. Many would make the effort to find funds for something they considered very much worth while. But it was important that the area of choice involving full treatment should be placed before them.

Mr J. W. Ashby, a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, said it was true that people could afford to have what they regarded as important. This applied to families' acquisition of cars, television sets and bicycles for the children.

It was largely a matter of trying to encourage people to regard dental practice on a higher plane. The conference was grateful to Dr Beach for raising this important question.