20-30 Years Before Free Dental Service?

Northern Advocate, 27 August 1947, Page 4

20-30 Years Before Free Dental Service?

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. At the present rate at which dentists are being trained it will take 20 to 30 years to reach the stage when free dental treatment could be given to all. This opinion was expressed by Mr W. B. Tennent. of Palmerston North, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Dental Association yesterday. After referring to the introduction of the school dental service in 1921. Mr Tennent said that when the scheme was started the ratio of extractions to fillings was 114.5 to 100, and at present the ratio was 6.3 to 100.

At first, parents were asked to pay an annual nominal sum for each child, but some years later the service was made free. The Government had now extended the free service to include children up to 16 years, the intention being to extend it to 19 years and over as time and personnel permitted. SALARIED SCHEME “A few years ago when this proposal was first considered seriously, the association recommended the establishment of a salaried staff to carry it out,” said Mr Tennent. “It must be clearly understood that the present fee-for-service scheme is merely a temporary one to carry over until there is sufficient personnel to put the salaried scheme into effect.” This scheme has been introduced at a time when the profession was very heavily taxed to do all the dental treatment required, and two important conditions must be guarded at all costs, said Mr Tennent. The first was that, whatever political party was in power, the profession and its free dental service must never become a pawn for catching votes; in other words, the profession should never be forced to undertake any scheme it could ont carry out successfully. The other condition was that the Government should be guided by the advice of the Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene and his advisory committee. MORE STUDENTS “Thirty years ago there were five students at the dental school.” said Mr Tennent. “For the last 20 years the average annual number of graduates has been 13.

“Today, throughout New Zealand, there are 245 students studying dentistry, which has certainly become more popular as a career. Even at this rate it will take at least 20 to 30 years to bring the numbers in the dental profession to the stage where free dental service can be given to all.

“He would be a bold man who would say precisely what the practice of dentistry will be at that time.”