DENTAL SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 117, 9 February 1924, Page 6

DENTAL SERVICE

REGISTRATION QUESTION QUALIFIED PRACTITIONERS UNEASY DESIRE FOR FINALITY A strong desire is expressed among leading members of the dental profession that the Government should reach finality at an early date on the question of permitting publio practice only to those who have satisfied the terms of the Dentists Act and amendments in regard to qualifications. The representations that are being made to the Government by unregistered persons practising dentistry in New Zealand are causing, uneasiness among legally-qualified practitioners. The suggestion that legislation is likely, extending the period for qualification of unregistered dentists beyond the period stet down in the Dentists’ Amendment Act, 1921, has elicited a strong expression of protest by leading members of the profession, who complain that the question of the protection of public health is involved in any iproposal to further extend the Act to allow those who have not yet qualified to do so. Test of Qualification. “The Dentists’ Act of 1908,” said a leading practitioner to a Dominion representative yesterday, consdiaated existing legislation relating to the registration of dentists qualified to practise, and tho regulation of the practice of the profession in New Zealand. Tho Act gave a clear interpretation of what a registered dentist was. It specifically prescribed that only those candidates would he recisterA'l who were registered in* the United Kingdom, or who held a decree in dental surgery of the Um‘versitF/ iof Ne.’w Zealand. or .had gone through such course of study and professional practice and training passed such examinations. ano> obtained from the Senate such certificate of proficiency in dental surgery or dentistry as the Senate by regulation prescribed. “For thirteen years no amendment was made in the law relating to thb piacticn of dentistry. Then m response to an organised agitation by unregistered men. the law was amended Dentists woke up one morning to find that the law had been changed. and that the legal qualification had been seriously whittled down. re allow of the registration as qualified dentists of persons who had been merely engaged continuously in dental work for’ a period of two years, on nassiiiv an examination in general knowledge and in dentfstiry. The amending measure set a time limit on this type of registration, and prescribed that it would expire on March 31, 1924, after which no application of such a nature would be entertained. Two examinations of unregistered men were held under the 1921 amendment. In the cording to published figures, 61 candidates presented themselves, andl9 passed; in the second, hdd hs ««• comber. 72 candidates submitted themselves. and no fewer than 33 Passed. For those who were unable to qualify at these examinations, it is now being submitted on their behalf that the law' should be still further amended so that they may continue to sit for examination. Safety of the Public. “Is the public safety not to he considered? Is the proposal fair to the student at the Dental . School going through four years’ training in compliance with the Dentists Ac . fair to the parent of the student that his chances of entering the profession should thus be lessened? Is it fay to the nulllie that men who have not the professional training should be permit ted to practise dental surgery on theih Who are the suffeters at the hands ct unoualified dentists m i ;’ ns n C r to S Is it not the poor people? Believe mo, the dental profession are really warmed at the prospect, They are taking the matter very . seriously. “Dentistry is more and more being closely allied, with general medicine and surgery, and more is being reqa’™ l bv. the medical profession and the public from the dental surgeon. ( onsoquentlv, his training ought to be sucli as to fit him for his greater responsibilities and as a protection for publio safety. This latter was the main reason for amending the Act. It is recognised in all civilised countries that special training is necessary in dentistry, just as in medicine. Such training has-been provided in the Dominion, so that on* youiv’ students need not go abroau., “With regard to the question nt these unqualified mon peeking registration, a number of dental mechanics combined at the time of the amending measure of 1921, stating that they had been performing dental operations undei supervision, and asking that they be given consideration. The clause in the principal Act. allowing dental operations to bo performed by qualified people under supervision, was inserted to allow of such being done in training dental students at the School of Dentnstiy, and it was not expected that private practitioners would take advantage oi this clause and allow unaualined njen to treat their patients. However, the Government considered the claims ol these people, and treated them in an extremely generous manner, for, whilst the student who wishes to take his degree in dentistry must have. passed the preliminary medical examination; and the student who is taking the certificate of nroficiency must have passed the Matriculation examination, these men were only required to have paßroa the Sixth Standard or its equivalent; and, further, the examination in dentistry they were asked to pass was of a very much lower standard than that demanded of the present dental student. Effect of Further lhanije. “These arrangements were accepted as generous by the unregistered > men, and their loaders expressed themselves to this effect. Tho idea that the Government should still further render assistance will involve the alienation of tho sympathies, not only of the profession . generally, but of most rightthinking people throughout the Dominion. I feel sure that the New Zealand Dental Association. and tho profession generally will view ths proposal with great disfavour. “Either the public should be protected. as is expressed in the Act. or the Act should lx? done away with altogether, and permission to practice given to anvono who pleases. What would be said,for instance, if hospital boards dispensed with their present staff and placed unqualified and improperly-train-ed men in charge?' I believe that this is a matter that the public should take up, as they, and particularly the poorer classes, should lie amply protected against inefficient denial service.’’