PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 53, 26 November 1929, Page 10

PROFESSION OF DENTISTRY

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR STUDENTS Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, November 25. The fact that New Zealand is not over-supplied with dentists was emphasised to-day by Dr. Bevan Dodds, Dean of the Dental Faculty, in an interview. “In a few years the shortage of dentists will probably be acute,” said Dr. Dodds. The Professor of Dentistry said that twenty students graduated yearly from the Dental School, and the number was barely sufflcient to meet the demand. Requests for young practitioners were always being received, and at the end of each year, when the students accepted appointments there were seldom less than two vacancies. All the graduates of the Dental School, said Dr. Dodds, were doing very well, showing that the profession was an attractive one. Very few graduates left New Zealand, the departures being only those taking post-graduate courses in America and England. Dr. Dodds explained that the degree of B.D.S. was required before a graduate could practise outside of New Zealand. Very few students were now taking the certificate of proficiency course, and there was every reason to expect a further reduction in the number of C.O.P. students, as the certificate coursfi was now extended almost to the degree standard. Discussing the demand for practitioners, Dr. Dodds said that few students graduated from the school during the war, and the post-war graduations were numerous. The opening of the “back door” two or three years ago to mechanics who had practised for considerable periods also influenced the profession, but, said Dr. Dodds, many of the established practitioners were now middle-aged, and greater openings could be expected. He believed there would be an acute shortage of dentists In a. few years’ time.