DENTAL DISEASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 110, 12 May 1939, Page 5

DENTAL DISEASE

A SERIOUS SCOURGE

CAUSE OF MUCH ILL HEALTH

Dental disease prevalent in countries of the world inhabited-by white people and its effect on the national health was dealt with by Mr. J. L. Saunders, director of the Dental Division of the Department of Health, in an address at the Optimists' Club luncheon today.

In opening, Mr. Saunders quoted a remark of the late Sir Truby King, who stated that dental disease was no mere chance unfortunate disability of the day, it was a more serious national scourge than cancer or consumption. Other eminent authorities, the speaker added, had spoken of dental disease in similar terms.

The economic waste caused by dental disease was referred to by Mr. Saunders. "I wonder how many of you are aware of the proportion of the school children of this Dominion, let alone the adults, that suffer from dental disease," he said. "No less than 97 per cent, are affected."

He mentioned a large insurance company in Great Britain—an "approved" company in the national health insurance scheme, which in its report on health matters stated that dental troubles were responsible for quite half the ill health among the industrial classes. Another report stated that over £5,000,000 had been paid in sickness benefits in the course of one year. Dental disease alone was costing £2,500,000 indirectly, quite apart from what it was costing in actual dental treatment, which cost another £2.500,----000. He quoted other writers of many; countries who had pointed out the great amount of money that was being spent in this direction. IN NEW ZEALAND. In New Zealand, apart, from private practitioners, dental services were supplied by dental departments at public hospitals and by school dental services, which at the moment were under his control. New. Zealand's school dental services were being rapidly extended, so that in the next three years they would be available for every primary school in the country. Since 1936 rapid progress had been made. Today there were very nearly 300 school dental clinics throughout New Zealand, and 95,000 school children were receiving regular and systematic dental care. They would also be instructed in elementary hygiene and the preservation of the teeth.

The new dental clinic and training school for nurses would provide the centre of attention for the 15,000 children in the Wellington metropolitan area, and would also provide dental nurses for the whole of New Zealand. "You must realise that activities such as this cost money," he added.

Among many activities of the committee of the League of Nations was the investigation into nutrition, and the teeth. They reported that milk, butter, and other dairy products, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and fish were of the greatest good to the teeth. They condemned refined white sugar and refined white flour.

"I believe if we could convey to the public the seriousness of dental disease and give them elementary information Sve could do a great deal towards its prevention," concluded Mr. Saunders.