PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

Southland Times, Issue 18983, 18 November 1920, Page 5

PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

REPLY TO AUSTRALIAN CRITICISM* ‘'EXTRAVAGANT AND PREPOSTEROUS SUGGESTIONS.” (Per United Press Association.} AUCKLAND. Novonber 17. The cabled report of the paper read at the annual meeting of the Australian Society of Dental Science. alleging that 90 per cent, of dentists allowed decay l-o proceed as a source of future income, was referred to-day to Mr Nelson Mitchell, president of the New Zealand Dental Association. He said it was a well-known fact that the keynote of the teaching of the dental profe-s----ftjon and the practice of reputable, dentists throughout the British Empire for the last 2d years had been prevention in the interest of public health. The treatment of advanced nr neglected dental caries wss of such ar, arduous and difficult nature that membeif l of the profession were always eager to treat the disease in the initial stages. With this object in view they wera continually impressing their patients with, the need of periodical exacnnalionß. •'bud; statements as these have been heard before in connection with the lawyer who foments strife or the medical man who keeps his patient sick for reason of comjncrein! gain,” added Mr Mitchell, ‘‘and it is to he hoped that public opinion will be ai little influenced by this latest bogey as the extravagant and preposterous nature of thsj suggestions deserve.”