DETAILS OF NEW DENTAL SERVICE

Chronicle (Levin), 31 January 1947, Page 5

DETAILS OF NEW DENTAL SERVICE

-Press Assoeiation

Age Limitation in Early Stages

By Telegraph-

W JJiljJ-illN-U-XlJXX, OUJU. _ou. A no.tiee appearing in the New Zealand Gazette published yesterday, defines whi.t persons are eligible for enrolment in eonnection with. th.e Government 's plan for extending' existing dental services to the adolescent group as recently announced by the Aliuister oi Health, Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer. _In a previous Gazette February 1 1947 was notified as the date of the eommen.eement of dental benefits under the Social Security (Dental Benefits) E-egu-Iations 1946. In explanation of the Gazette aotice, Mr. Nordmeyer said today that whlir the Government was anxious to make this extended service availalile as soon as possible to all persons up to 19 years of age, it was neeessary to impose certain limitations in the early stages. Tlie governing factor was, of course, thc 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 mueh they could undertalce until they tiad some experience of the system in operation. After eonsultation with the Xew Zealand Dental Assoeiation it had oeen decfded, said the Minister, that ali persons whose school dental treatment ceased m 1946, that is to say, those who last year were in the highest class under treatment at their loeal school dental .'linie, would be eligible, irrespective oi age, for enrolment for dental benefits provided the application for enrolment ,\'as made within three niontlis oi' v.easing to be a e linie patient. Mr. Nordmeyer said tliat, to begin with, in respect of those who had not oeen receiviiig dental treatment at tlieii iocal school last year, it would be uecessary to impose tlie age limitatioii of 16 years. All persons under 16 could apply for enrolment and provided their dental health was of adequate standard and they were otherwise eligible, they would receive dental benefits until they reaehed tlieir sixteenth birthday. Forms of application for enrolment were obtainabie at any seliool dental clinic or at any office of tlie Department of Health. Aijplicants wlio were eligible for enrolment under the regulations would be notified accordingly. Tliey would then be free to seleet tlie praccitioner wliom they wished to at tend. On being accepted by the den tist as a patient enrolment- would. be eonipleted by the issuing of a dentai uenehts eard. Enrolled patients would be examined iwiee yearly and all neeessary treatment givon without cust to tlie pnlient, ihe ueiiusL reeov ering his fees from ihe Kocial Kecurity Fund in accordance with a scale agreed upon by the Government and the dental profession. Provision was made for X-ray examination where neeessary and forms of treatment other than those provided for under tlie regulations could be given with the jirior approvai of the uepartment. Tiie seliednle of treaLnient prescribed in the regulations, however, covered all tlie usual forms of routiae treatment. The Minister said the aim of tlie nationai dental service was lirst 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 liigh dental standard throughout tlie years. Dental disease was an outstanding pubiic health probiem in this as' in other eountries. . 1 1 Through the medium of our liighlv successful school dental service," said Mr. Nordmeyer, "eoupled witli this extension of dental facilities, the continued education of tlie pubiic in dental problems and the early inauguration of a research programnie, we hope ultimately that dental disease in tliis eountry will be brought under c'omplete control. The response from the dentists is most eneouraging and there is every reason for the belief tliat this further extension of tlie health benefits will operate successfully and to the great advantage of the pubiic."