STATE DENTAL SCHEME

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1947, Page 6

STATE DENTAL SCHEME

CERTAIN LIMITATIONS WILL BE EFFECTIVE TO BEGIN WITH (Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 80 A notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette, published yesterday, defines what persons are eligible for enrolment in connection with the Government’s plan for extending the existing dental services to the adolescent group, as recently announced by the Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer).

In a previous Gazette, February J, 1947, was notified as the date of the commencement of the dental benefits under Social Security (Dental Benefits) Regulations, 1946. In an explanation of the Gazette notice, Mr. Nordmeyer said to-day that while the Government was anxious to make this extended service available as soon as possible to all persons up to 19 years of age, it was necessary to impose certain limitations in the early stages. The Governing factor was, of course, the capacity of the dental profession to cope with the numbers involved, and while the response from dentists was excellent, the dentists themselves were not in a position to know exactly how much they could undertake until they had some experience of the system in operation.

After consultation with the New Zealand Dental Association, it had been decided, said the Minister, that all persons whose school dental treatment ceased in 1946, that is to say those who last year were in the highest class under treatment at their local school dental clinic, would be eligible, irrespective trf age, for enrolment for dental benefits, provided application for enrolment was made within three months of ceasing to be a clinic patient.' Mr. Nordmeyer said that to begin with in respect of those who had not been receiving dental treatment at their local school last year, it would be necessary to impose an age limitation of 16 years. All persons under 16 could apply for enrolment and provided their dental hfaith was of adequate standard, and they were otherwise eligible, they would receive dental benefits ur-tik they reached their 16th. birthday. Forms of application for enrolment were obtainable at any

school, dental clinic, or at any offle* of the Department of Health. Applicants who were eligible for enrolment under the regulations would be notified accordingly. They would then be free to select the practitioner whom they wished to attend. On being accepted by a dentist as a patient the enrolment would be completed by the issuing of a dental benefits card. Enrolled patients would be examined twice yearly, and all the necessary treatment given without cost to the patient, the dentist recovering his fees from the Social Security Fund in accordance with the scale agreed upon by the Government and the dental profession. Provision was made for X-Ray examination where necessary, and forms of treatment other than those provided for under the regulations could be given with the prior approval of the department. The schedule of treatment prescribed in the regulations, however, covered all the usual forms of routine treatment. The Minister said the aim of the National Dental Service was, first of all, to establish good dental health at an early age, and then, by means of supervision at regular and frequent intervals, to maintain a high dental standard throughout the years. Dental disease was an outstanding public health problem in this, as in other countries. 'Through the medium of our highly successful school dental service,” said Mr. Nordmeyer, ‘coupled with this extension of dental facilities, continued education of the public in dental problems and the early inauguration of a research programme, we hope ultimately that dental disease in this country will be brought under complete control. The response from dentists is most encouraging. There is every reason for belief this further extension of health benefits will operate successfully, and to the great advantage of the public."