Courtesy Title Of Doctor For Dentists?

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1948, Page 7

Courtesy Title Of Doctor For Dentists?

WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. The question oi the adoption of. ihe courtesy title of "doctor7' by all dentists in New Zealand has been considered during the year by the executivj oi' the x\ew Zealand Dental Association, states the annuai report of the orgauisation. As far as the executive lcnows, in all countries except the United Kiug dom aud Australia, dentists are knowu by that title. "In view of both the rapidly changing nature of dental prac tice and the faet that dentists are cieai lv established as cu-workers of a jiro fessional standing in -health servieers, ii is a question "as to whether or not tlns title should be iutroduced in Neiv Zealand, 77 the report states. The executive comments on "the disLurbing news77 that out of 12 fcHate bursars who qualilied in May and vvlio were expected to enter the Division c.f Dental Mygiene ho fewer than eig'nl t'ailed to do so but joined men m private practice. Tliis app»eared to be a breaeh of wliat in the opinion of the executive was a clear moral obligation to the State. At the same time is serinusly cut baclc the long prexrared piaus of the Division which were supported by the Association. The Association 's policv was that the treatment o.' adojescents should eventually be the coneern of State salaried dentists ^nd it was o'iily until a salaried serviee was built up that with the support of tne Association adolescents wero beiiig (reated by practitioners on a f'ee for serviee basis. "Members of the public are being preyed upon by a few quacks and charlatans in" most cases without realisin.., that they are in the dangerous liands oi unqualified nnd 'eomplctcly untrained men. 77 In these terms the executivo refers in its annuai report to its greatest concern — the problem of illegal practice by a pereentage of dental meenanies who unlavvfully are undertuking chair-side procedu'res for fhe publie. Tliis is aifiaw. in the public liealtli f ramework which has escape 1 ' legislative notiee, 77 the report continues, "and in tlie interests of the public it is time the fault w.is reniedied. 77 During the year a special sub-com-niittee had considered the problem wi:h the idea of bringiiig forward measures to eliniinate the illegal practice and proposals for the better training and improvement of dental tochnicians in tlieir craft. Since then every... effort has been uiade to puf its recomniendations into effect.