DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16433, 23 May 1921, Page 8

DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

A XNTJAI, (.'OXFERENCE. CUxr Press Association A WELLINGTON, May 21. The seventeenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Dental Association \,HH just concluded. During the course oi four days’ sittings many important subjects were discussed by the sixty representatives preseut, and a number of valuable clinical demonstrations were *dven, illustrating some of the latest developments in dental science. The president, Mi* Nelson Mitchell f Auckland), in addressing the gathering, said that the association, must aim io reach th© goal of reducing dental disease to n negligible quantity", if not eradicating it altoj s ‘»thcr. The association had been successful in establishing four dental hospitals in the large centres for the benefit of those unable to pay for private These infftitntiona tvehe accomplishing a great deal of good, but were unable to cope with the great mass of treatment reciuired. He referred to the establishment of dentfel bursarieß and compulsory denfal treatment of school children, and •said that in future, the watchword of dentists must bo prevention. They must keep in touch with every branch of research along those lines, and see that knowledge wan imparted to mothers and children of the coming generation. The annual report referred to the successful launching of the school dental scheme under the able management of Dr T. A. Hunter as the most important dental event of the year. The recent newspaper controversy over school dental service was discussed and it was resolved to deprecate discussion of matters of dental policy in the public press, end lake steps to prevent recurrences. It was mentioned that twenty-three new students had entered the dental school this year, hut only five bursaries had l»»rn taken. 'Dio executive council was to advise th© authorities regarding the number of fresh dentists required annually to maintain the supply. Mr O. V. Davies, of the Otaoro Dental College, was elected vice-president, and th© president-elect. Dr E. L. Renton (Auckland), chairman of the executive. Mr Claude H. Moses was re-appointed honorary secretary, and Mr B. S. Finn (Auckland) honorary treasurer. It wag resolved to try to arrange that the next annual meeting should bo held in Nelson.