THE DENTISTS’ ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19269, 5 September 1924, Page 2

THE DENTISTS’ ACT.

PROTEST AGAINST AMENDMENT. ACTION BY NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN. The proposal by the Government to further amend the Dentists’ Act during the- currant session of Parliament was considered at the annual conference of the National Council of Women yesterday, and a protest against any alteration was carried unanimously. In introducing the subject the President (Mrs Carmalt Jones) said the Bill would come before the House on the following day, and the conference wished to pass a resolution bearing on the subject so that it could lie sent to the Government before the measure was dealt with. Dr Siedeberg moved—“ That the following resolution be forwarded by telegram to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Education :—- ‘ln the opinion of the National Council of Women, in conference assembled, the granting of any lower qualification in dentistry than that prescribed by the New Zealand University is a menace to public health, and this council protests against any further amendment of the Act of 1908.’ ” Dr Siedeberg said that for the benefit of those ladies who might not be conversant with the full details she would like to state concisely the present position of affairs. About 20 years ago it became compulsory that all dentists before registration should undergo a four years’ course of training at a university. and pass certain examinations in theoretical and practical work before obtaining their degree enabling them to register. At this time there were naturally many dentists practising whose interests had to be safeguarded. In order to allow them to practise without contravening the law they were allowed to register under certain conditions. A low standard examination was set them by the Board of Studies, and practically all passed and were registered. At this time there were also _ a number of men apprenticed as mechanics in dentists’ workrooms, with no knowledge of general anatomy or the spesial anatomy of the mouth and teeth, and no knbwledgo of physiology and pathology. They knew nothing about the serious results which followed from neglected teeth, and they Know nothing of the method of development of the teeth or the effects and dangers of cocaine; indeed, the whole subject of dentistry was a blank to them. An intimate knowledge was required for intelligent and expert dentistry, a knowledge which we now knew to be essential if we wished to keep the health of the child and adult up to a reasonable standard. These men had in the past set up for themselves as dentists after doing purely mechanical work for a certain time. It w'as recognised that* their standard of knowledge was by no means what it should be. but the Government passed an Act enabling these men to place themselves on the register up to 1907. That was to b© the final date allowed. After that no dentist was to bo allowed to go on the register, without an efficient course of university training in his subject. She might say that this was similar to the Medical Practitioners’ Act. In the past any setter of bones could practise as a doctor, but now we would be horrified at the possibility of such a thing. In 1908 an amendment was passed giving these men up to 1911 to pass their examination and register, and once again men uneducated in their subject, and with neither training nor expeiience at the back of them, were allowed to register as fully-qualified dentists. The people most vitally concerned—the students who were compelled to undergo a strenuous and expensive four years course in dentistry, those members of (he public who were interested in the health and welfare of the community as a whole, and those interested in the reputation and standing of New Zealand’s professional men and women —protested against this further chance being given to men to Practise on an ignorant- public, for the public had no means of knowing who were wellqualified dentists, expert at their job, and who were dentists ignortant of their work. However, they carried the day, and protests were of no use. A large proportion passed a simple examination, and were registered. Then the war came, and a new batch of dental assistants had grown up. Some mechanics and other dental assistants went into camp and did military service, and on their return solicited the sympathy of members and aslced that they should bo allowed to register. Everybody was sympathetic with men who had seen service, and again 79 went up for examination. Of these, 42 passed. Those who were unsuccessful were again endeavouring now to get the Act amended in their favour and were asking that Tie examination should not be held under the auspices - of the university, but under the Minister of Health. She was sure that those present would agree that such a state of affairs would be a public scandal, and where the health of our growing vouth was concerned they ns women should protest against the principle of allowing only par-tially-trained men to practise and to register side by side with men and women who had given up four years of their life in order to make themselves expert and abide by the law. , . , . ~.. Miss Cox, a senior dental student, said, it was rapidly becoming a well-known fact that neglect to obtain sound dental treatment might have disastrous results, but people did not yet realise the amount of discernment, knowledge, and technical skill that was necessary for the correction of any unhealthy or unnatural condition of the mouth. In children this was specially true. Faulty treatment might result in loss of teeth that were necessary to the growth and development of the jaws and consequently of the face. It might cause lack of masti catary power with consequent malnutrition and its attendant evils, lack of growth, and anaimia. In older people careless work and lack of fundamental soundness caused only too often serious oral sepsis, leading in many cases to chronic infection of other parts of the body such illness as rheumatoid arthritis, acute indigestion, anaemia-, and others lieing only too often traced back to unhealthy mouth conditions. To the end that these evils should be corrected the Government made a law enforcing a university training covering, a period of four yearsThis time was spent by a student ■in concentrated study of necessary fundamental subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, dental, apd oral surgery, etc. At the same time ho was being trained in technical skill and mechanical work ; and for two years of that time was actually practising clinically under expert proiessionad supervision of the highest order. The course of four years under the tuition of such men as Dr Pickcrill and Dr Bell, and an excellent staff of demonstrators, was the minimum basis for general practice; and they realised at the end of that time the responsibility of a dentist in the community with regard to the health of its people. They know that this course was short enough. How, then, could men who had spent only two years m preparation, and who, during that time, had gathered what knowledge they could by rule of thumb; hope to obtain the same degree of proficiency and professional knowledge as the thoroughly trained university graduate '! On the face of things it was absurd and unreasonable. The poorer people and those with large families would suffer. Amongst those the unskilled dentist would find ample fields of, operation And herein lay the iniquity of the situation. For unskilled dentistry was a menace to public health and a criminal action. 'The university was able to supply enough scientifically trained men to moot the country’s demand. But if this amendment was passed provision would bo made for some 40t-J men of the apprenticeship type to come into the - country from England; and the people know only too little how to protect themselves against unskilled workers. Surely it was the work of the Government, particularly of the Public Health Department, to protect the people instead of making it lawful for ignorant, inefficient men to do more harm than good. The motion, which was seconded by Miss England (Wellington), was carried unanimously.