THE DENTAL ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160814, 23 November 1920, Page 4

THE DENTAL ASSOCIATION'S VIEWS.

As mentioned above, members of the New Zealand Dental Association are divided on the subject. When the Education Department’s proposal was first brought before the Association, a large majority of the branchef opposed the proposal, but subsequently their' representatives in conference in Wellington _ last September by a two to one majority reversed their branches’ decision anil supported the proposal. Several of the branches, however, including Wanganui, are not satisfied with the, decision arrived at by a majority of the. delegates, and are seeking to have the Department’s proposals up■get. They argue that it would be detrimental to the health and ✓welfare of the rising generation to have dental work performed by other than qualified dentists, ' It is claimed by the highest authorities in the dental profession that the inspection and treatment of the children’s teeth not only call for the greatest patience, tact, and skill on the part of the dentist in undertaking difficult and delicate surgical operations, but also for considerable scientific knowledge and forethought, to allow for the; ultimate results that may arise from operations performed in childhood, influencing tlfe structure of the adult jaws and teeth, the general health and physique. Qualified dentists make mistakes/ and, say they, if professional men constantly engaged in this kind of work occasionally err, how much greater mhst be the percentage of error if so important a branch of school dentistry is to be delegated to partially trained nurses. In the case of children, it is deemed to be of far greater importance to avoid the giving of dental treatment by inexperienced and unqualified persons than in the case, of adults, for at a tender age, when the’ bones and adjacent structures are in a-plastic condition, the good results ,of preventive and conservative measures are . incalculably greater, and the damage arising 'from faulty Treatment frequently irreparable and disastrous.