DENTAL SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 8

DENTAL SCHOOL

“ Terrific Difficulties ” NEW BUILDING NEEDED p A ROTORUA, Sept. 19. It was quite impossible to continue indefinitely under the expedients provided by the present Dental School building at Dunedin and the early completion of the new school was an urgent need, said Mr A. R. IVfcKegg. of Palmerston North, the president of the New Zealand Dental Association, in his address to the annual conference of the association, which opened this morning. “In the present building the dean and his staff are battling against terrific difficulties to assure that graduates leave the school with an adequate training. . Our profession owes them a great debt of gratitude for the magnigficent way in which they are keeping astride of the times and, in spite Of odds, are introducing new subjects into the course. “it is not our desire to limit the numbers practising dentistry, but it Is our duty to see that our people are supplied with adequately trained practitioners,” he added. \ Provision had to be made for postgraduate training, too. Mr McKegg said. The dean and his staff had not waited for a ( new building, but had introduced a post-graduate course, and, judged by the opinions of men attending it, a programme of the utmost interest and practical value had been offered. On reviewing the enormous cost of dental treatment in this country, the economic need for research became very evident, Mr McKegg said. At. the Dental School there was an efficient research department, but better facilities were an economic necessity. Discussing preventive dentistry, Mr McKegg said: “I know of no occasion when an individual is so wholly receptive to instruction in any subject as when the individual is seated in the dental chair for treatment. We should avail ourselves of this opportunity to inform the people of known and proved preventive measures.” Mr McKegg added that during the conference the Council on Dental Health Education would be inaugurated. This was a forward step, which should receive full support. With a co-ordinated educational policy both the public and the pro-: fession should benefit.