Valuable Work By Otago Dental School

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1949, Page 7

Valuable Work By Otago Dental School

Press AssociationJ

t (Per

DUNEDIN, S'ept. 1. Dental researeh work that will benefit not only' New Zealanders but also people throughout the world, is, being undertaken at the National _ Dental School in Dunedin. The Minister oi Education, Mr McCombs, referring to the "extremely valuable researeh work'' at the Otago Dental Sdhool, has said that "if New Zealand were Ame rica, details of the researeh work wodid be splashed all over the front pages of every newspaper in the country. He added that " the researchers were apparentlv making absolutely certain of •their conclusions before they were announced, " but 'it did seem that at last soxnething could be done to meet the problein of children 's defieient teeth." When approached today the -Dean of the Dental School, Dr. J. P. Walslx, said that he was reluctant to discuss the researeh work at this stage when so much of the work was not completed. The nature of sonie of this researeh work is, hcwever, known. The Dental School has the only fuil time physical chemist in the world working 011 the problein of dental caries that starts on the surface of the teeth. lt is understood that hopeful results have already been obtained but that the linal conclusions have not yet been drawn. Work on a substitute for the dental drill- that will prepare teeth without vibration, is also in progress at the Dental School. A liigli speed drill being perfected revolves at sueh a rate tliai all \ ibration is eliruinated. Another important researeh is covering the ill effeets of dentures, partieularly 011 the joints of the jaw. Many people, it. is understood4 have been suffering from facial pains in the past but oulv recentlv has it been ascertained that one of the causes of the trouble is arising from the wearing" of false teeth. The use of penicillin to prevent o; arrest decay of the teeth, is yet another researeh that has been in progres.for somo time but it is not yet complet ed. Kesearch work is also being carried out on the possibility of oils preventuur dental decay. The work of physical' cliemistry at the school. is being supported by tha Medical Researeh Council,