BETTER DENTAL SCHOOL IS URGED

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1946, Page 4

BETTER DENTAL SCHOOL IS URGED

-Press Association

MORE STUDENTS REQUIRED,

By Telegraph—

vHJNEDlN, August 27. The faet that the dental professjon in New Zealand was urging the proyision of a better dental school with research facilities was mentipned by Dr. C. H. Tait, of Dunedin, in his presidential address today to the annual conferenee of the New Zealand Dental Assqciation. He said that the profession was preparfid to heip financially in the mat,ter and would assume its full responsibilities. ' ' Organised denti'stry in New Zealand, ' 5 Dr. Tait said, ' ' has ngver closed its eyes to the changes that have occurred in recent years in social thinking and pianning. As we look back over the last 30 years or so we find that dentistry has always been in the forefront in movements designed to improve tlie health of citizens. Organised dentisti'y urged and made possible the training of dental surgeons at a recognised dental school attaclied to the Dniversity thereby raising the standard of work done for the public. Dentistry advised and planncd the system of school dentistry, and now we have school dental eliiiics. ' ' Dentistry at present is urging a better national dental school, research facilities and activities, and a closer study of prevention, with necessary education along these imes. We are prcpared to help iinancially," Dr. Tait added. "Deniistry cannot be justly accused of ignoring its social obligations, and if past accomplishments can be used as a criterion the profession wiii assume its full responsibilities iu social changes that at this time seeni to be inevitaole. " lteference to the need for a new dental school was also made by thC Chancellor of the Dniversity of Otago, the Very Kev. D. C. Herron, who officially opened the conferenee. He said it was to be hoped that the present members of the association would strengthen the hands of the University Council and the Dean of the Dental Faculty in their advocacy of the speedy erection of a new building to meet present requirenients and the requirements of years aliead. Btudents, he said, would require to be trained in much greater numbers than ever before to iill gaps in what was- at present an ageing profession aiul to provide fully-trained practitioners for tlie additional service projected by the Government. At the same time it should be remembered that the dental school lyas a national institution and that what was spent on it should not prejudice ti- i urgent needs of Otago Dniversity. That point noededvto be emphasised because there was a tendency for Government Departments to think that money spent on special schools in Dunedin should be regarded as expenditure on Otago Dniversity.