DENTAL CHARGES RISING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15222, 21 May 1920, Page 8

DENTAL CHARGES RISING.

STATE SERVICB INAUGURATED. (Special to the Horald.) WELLINGTON, this aay. Dentists, according to a discussion which has taken place a I their annual conference, have not kept ppce with the general rise m the cost of services and goods, but they, now propose to review their charges with the object of bringing them more into « line with the .current cost of materials and mechanics' wages. Tho •matter was raised by tho Wanganui dele--grate (Mr Grunuuitt), who, m an exhaustive paper en the economics of the dental business, showed that overhead charges daring the last few years have more than doubled, one of the biggest factors m the increasing working expenses being the complete abolition of the apprenticeship system, necessitating all dental mechanic fln l work being done by highly-paid skilled dental mechanics, instead of low-paid apprentices. The Dental Conference has set up a committee representative of all parts of New Zealand to draft a scale of charges which will involve a general increase. STATE DENTAL SERVICE. The conference was enthusiastic over the early activity of the State Dental Department, and complimented the Prime Itiriister oh being head of the first Government which has taken up State dentistry m a Comprehensive way. It is recognised by the profession that, although complete abolition of dental trouble m adults is too vast a task to undertake, there is no - reason why the coming generation need not be free from this disease, whiah seems, to be the root of many other moro serious troubles. Therefore, with the, hearty co-operation of the chief dental officers of the Education Department who addressed dentists on the subject, the conference instructed its incoming executive to set up a committee for the investigation of scientific -causes of dental disease and methods of treatment as a preliminary to a thorough teampaign of education of parents and children, m which tho Government will take the lead. Tho appointment of a thief dental officer undo.r the Education Department Is likely to bo announced m a few days. This will be followed by tho -appointment of a dental staff for operative and educational work among school children.