TO CHECK DENIAL DISEASE

Evening Star, Issue 18337, 26 July 1923, Page 10

TO CHECK DENIAL DISEASE

AH INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN,

[Pee United Peess Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, July 25.

Important proposals for treatment and prevention of dental defects wore made to the Hospital Board to-day.

Hr T. A. Hunter wrote as follows: “ Von know the work I am engaged on in building up a dental service in the endeavor lo cope with the treatment of school children, and you also arc aware of the vastness of the problem, as dental disease is increasing to an alarming extent in this as in other countries. The more J go into flic subject tho more, I am convinced that a combination between the Government and tho hospital hoards in undertaking a campaign to light this disease, is the rational one, and one most likely to prove successful. The authorities arc agreed (hat. dent a,I disease is not the simple matter that is generally supposed, but one of the most urgent and gravest of our day. Whilst a. few of the more up-to-date hospitals have a denial department, and arc doing a. certain amount of lroatme.nl, of young children, the. large majority are, practically speaking, doing nothing in this direction. To gel full results, from a, political and econo mic point of view, a very large staff of workcis will be necessary In make, this possible within a reasonable lime. The, ihivernmeni, is now undertaking the, training of such, not only I" heat a considerable amount of the disease, but lo leach parents and others simple methods by wav of preventing the disease. Our results, so far as they go, am splendid; and, whilst in the early stages there was oprosiliei, from a. section of (he profi ssinn, you will have not teed that at tin; Denial Conference in Christchurch the, oilier clay a. resolution was passed expressing complete confidence in the scheme. 1 am not suggesting in the slightest degree Dial our present service will bo restricted. I am sure we. shall have double the number of nurses to train next year that we had last year, and the present scheme will vo forward : but 1 consider the co-opera-lion and co-ordination suggested would make for a mom efficient and rapid general attack on the enemy.”

It was agreed that the board should moot Hr Hunter on bis next visit, to Christchurch.