FOOLISH CHARGES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16895, 18 November 1920, Page 5

FOOLISH CHARGES.

DENIED BY DENTISTS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. The cabled report of a paper read at the annual meeting of the Australian Society of Dental Science, alleging that 90 per cent, of dentists allowed decay to 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 is a well-known fact that tho keynote of the teachings of the dental profession, and the practice of reputable dentists throughout the British Empire for the last 26 years, had been prevention in tho interest of public health. The treatment of advanced or neglected dental caries is of such an arduous and difficult nature that members of tho profession are always eager to treat disease in its initial stages, and with this object in view are continually impressing their patients with the need of periodical examinations. Mr. Mitchell added: “Such statements as these have been heard before in connection with the lawyer who foments strife and the medical man who assi.ste sickness for reasons of commercial gain, .and it is to be hoped that public opinion will be aa little influenced by this latest bogey as tho extravagant and preposterous nature of the suggestions deserve.”