"APPALLING TEETH."

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1920, Page 6

"APPALLING TEETH."

* TREATMENT IN SCHOOLS • MINISTER DEFENDS SCHEME. "A few people in Dunedin seem to be stirring up trouble over my department's proposal to give dental treatment to school children," said the Minister for Education, Hon. C. J. Parr. "It is therefore necessary to re-state the facts. ''One thing is quite clear, the condition of our children's teeth nowadays can only be described as appalling. The school medical officers furnish facts and figures which prove that this menace to the next generation's health is a most serious business. Not one child in seven but needs immediate treatment. There is already a shortage of dentists in New Zealand at the present time. Try as we may, we could not get a sufficient number of fully-qualified men for many yean to come. Are we in the meantime to sit down and wait? I hope not. The department is of opinion that suitable women with a two-years' intensive course directed to the special needs of the school children can well fill the gap. "This proposal is not a hasty one. It has been well considered. On September 5 last a conference was held at Wellington at my request, at which were present the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Dental Association. Professor Pickerill. of the Otago University Dental School, Mr. Hunter, chief dental officer, and the deputy chief health officer The proposals of Mr. Hunter on behalf of the Education Department were then expounded and carefully considered. Two resolutions were passed. The first affirmed the principle of Mr. Hunter's proposals for the training of dental nurses, and the second represented to the Government the necessity of increasing the number of dental bursars. The first resolution was carried by a majority of over two to one. The second was carried unanimously." The Minister added that the women would not come into competition with fully-qualified dentists. They would work only within the department. The training was to be given in Wellington because the facilities at Dunedin were required for.degree students. The department was assured by the Crown law officers that there were no legal obstacles to the scheme. "I object," said Mr. Parr, "to suggestions that the department's action has been high-handed and against the interests of the dental profession. Every step has been carefully considered, and the proposal has been fully discussed and approved at a meeting where all interests were represented. No one is more keen than I to safeguard the status and efficiency of. the dental profession, but every dentist will agree with me when I say that the almost awful problem of children's teeth as it is to-day demands an immediate practical measure. My special problem is to bring relief to thousands of suffering school children, and 1 can seo no other way." CRITICISM OF STATE SCHEME. By Teleiranh.—fress Association. Dunedin, Nov. 22. Dr. Pickerill, replying to the remarks of the Hon. 0 J. Parr regarding the State dental scheme, says: "I yield to no one in my desire to see established for the children of New Zealand a sound dental service which will, as Mr. Parr says, have as its aim the prevention of decay and the care and treatment of urgent cases. I am not desiring to block his scheme, as I think he is onlv doing his duty, but, on behalf of the children, I am endeavoring to secure several modifications which will materially benefit them. The Minister does not deny that State dentists have been appointed to the four chief centres, where dental hospitals already exist, and thus four other towns have been neglected which possess no facilities. He also confirms that, in fact, certain classes only arc to be treated and certain standards neglected. Neither does he deny that one school only in each centre is to be privileged to receive free State dentistry. I. have no doubt that State dentists'are doing excellent work so far as instructions allow, but I contend in fairness to the children of New Zealand, that dental officer should be instructed to direct, their attention to the removal of sepis in other children as being the most urgent requirement of the rising generation. The condition of these scholars' teeth, which I have continually been calling attention to, is appalling and in some cases shocking. I have recently seen three children between the age of 13 and 15 years who are toothless through neglect, I 'realise the service is limited and must grow, but why during its growth and from its inception should not the worst cases he treated first? Dr. Pickerill disagrees with Mr. Nel-„ son Mitchell's statements and believes" that, if individual members of the' dental profession were consulted, the great majority would condemn the proposal to utilise unqualified women in the State service. As regards time Dr. Pickerill says that Mr. Parr says he cannot wait for qualified men, therefore he will train 20 women for two years; but in two years' time we can give him 30 fully qualified men, who would be an infinitely greater asset to the State than 20 partially trained women.