DENTAL SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26550, 27 August 1947, Page 6

DENTAL SERVICE

PROPOSED EXTENSIONS LACK OF SUFFICIENT NUMBERS SALARIED STAFF NEEDED P.A. AUCKLAND, Aug. 26. The opinion,, that at the present rate at which' dentists were being trained it would take from 20 to 30 years to bring the numbers in the profession to the stage where free dental treatment could be given to all was expressed by Mr W. B. Tennent. of Palmerston North. in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Dental Association. The meeting, which was attended by about 180 dentists, will continue until Friday. Fewer Extraction 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 _ ana over as time and personnel permitted. “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 service scheme is merely s' temporary one to carry over until there is sufficient personnel to put a salaried scheme into effect. This scheme was 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. The first is that whatever political party is 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 cannot carry out successfully. Advice of Director “The other condition is that the Government should be guided by the advice of the Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene and his advisory committee. “Thirty years ago there were fiye students at the Dental School,” said Mr Tennent. “For the last 20 years, the average number of graduates has been 13. To-day, throughout New Zealand, there are 245 students studying dentistry which has certainly become more popular, as a carper. 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. ’