DENTAL SURGERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 20

DENTAL SURGERY

ADVANCES IN AMERICA NEW SYDNEY HOSPITAL A study of the latest developments ill Canada and the United States in dental and oral surgery, with a view to making use of the information in tike construction and equipment of a new dental hospital and oral surgery clinic in Sydney, was recently completed by Sir Harry Moxham, federal president of the Australian Dental Association, and Professor A. J. Arnott, dean of the faculty of dentistry and professor of oral surgery at Sydney University, who were through passengers by the Mariposa yesterday. During a five weeks' visit to America, I'rofessor Arnott said, they had inspected all the most important hospitals, yrhere they had been given every assistance. The most modern institution seen, le thought, was the County Hospital in I/os Angeles, in which there were beds for the accommodation of 3500 patients.

The most outstanding development in dentistry, Professor Arnott considered, ■sras the electro-forming method, which was the application of the depositing of metals on impressions taken either of the edentulous mouth for dentures, or of cavities prepared for inlays, and thus form metal dies on which to construct the restoration or denture. This was an old process applied to dentistry. The cost of the proposed hospital in Sydney, he continued, was £50,000. An effort would be made to have the new building as up-to-date as possible, and at the same time look to the future. It would have modern theatres and the latest sterilising equipment, for instruments. It was proposed to erect the building adjacent to the present dental hospital, would be renovated for future use. The New South Wales Government and, in particular, the Minister of Health, were interested in the project, Which, it was hoped, would be the most modern dental and oral sitrgery in the world.

Professor Arnott said the Sydney Dental Hospital last year treated a total of 65,000 patients. All had been previously interviewed by an investigation officer and certified as not being m tw position to pay private fees.