DENTISTS BUSY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 263, 2 August 1941, Page 8

DENTISTS BUSY

Appointments Made Long Ahead

WELLINGTON POSITION Wellington dentists, in common with members of the profession throughout New Zealand, are experiencing difficulty in giving prompt service to patients. Inquiries made yesterday revealed that, generally speaking, dentists’ appointment books are filled for from three weeks to a month ahead. The reason was stated to be an increase in the pressure of work, though the problem had been accentuated in some small measure by dentists joining the Armed Forces. One dentist reported that he was fully booked up for the whole of August and till early in September, for all types of appointments. Another said he was booked up a week ahead for short appointments of about half an hour, while Saturday morning appointments were booked through till September 6 and lunchhour appointments till August 25. No relief from Otago University graduates could be expected, it was stated, since they were now being absorbed into the forces as soon as they passed their final examinations. In addition, the number of students, as might be expected, had decreased. Altogether, approximately 160 members of the New Zealand Dental Association are believed to be serving with the forces. It has been pointed out that the practice of taking dental surgeons for the forces as they leave college will mean that no senior students will be entering the profession and the position will be acute if the war lasts long. There are a number of German refugee dentists in practice in various parts of New Zealand.

In Auckland, where 15 members of the Dental Association have been granted commissions in the forces, the position is also stated to be acute, and instances are known where a month ahead was the earliest time for which appointments could be made at a satisfactory hour. To some extent the war has affected the position in New Plymouth, but it is stated that though during tne past 10 years the population of the town has increased, the number of aentists has considerably decreased, throwing more work on those who are left. A Wellington dentist said yesterday that lie knew of some members of the profession whose male mechanics had joined up with the forces, and women iiad been taken on to replace them.