Dentistry and the Poor.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1, 26 September 1907, Page 6

Dentistry and the Poor.

: « I DENTAL ASSOCIATION TALKs? BUSINESS. . PROPOSED BUREAU FOR THE TOOTH-TROUBLED INDIGENT. It ha 3 been recognised by the modical profession for ;i long time t!i.r ; bad teeth are an obstacle to longevity, inasmuch as tho "seedy" teofcb throv. an overplus of work on to the digestive organs, and so initiate a regimenr ol ills, such as dyspepsia, indigestion intestinal complaints, and a dozen other serious horrors too dreadful t i particularise. Philanthropists ari ■, agreed that the poor shall not suite; from any natural cause if it can l--. prevented, and schemes for rclievir; in certain directions are an indication of the highest civilisation. Th ' unification of these ideas, as applied The unifying of theso ideas, as applie I to the dontal needs of the poor, is no; now, but up to the present no ordere d method has been practised in "Wellington, and the only relief that has beuoffered is tho doubtful quantity mote - out by young students. Now, hov'.'Ver, tho Wellington Dontal Assoc;;; tion has stepped forward with a prposition which, it is claimed, embrace in its essentials all that is desired k. She present. Tlis Isiccption. Tho Association has had the matf i:i hand for some months, for as lonr :igo as March last the minutes m. corded that tho spccial committee siij up to consider the matter vrere aslsecj to report on tho best out of th;o.| ichcmes then' submitted. Then o:' August 2 appeared tho following ;W solution in the mimito book:— "That tho committee of the, Wellington Dental Association tako the . necessary steps to carry out- plans for founding a Dontal Hospital as : outlined, and arrango a meeting with the organisations mentioned (Charitable Aid Board, Benevolent Trustees;, and Hospital Trustees) as soon as possible." Tho first necessary stop "in this important movement was to think out Ihe basis of a scheme, making dentistry for _ tho poor practicable without inipasing on individuals. Tho committci' .ias gone further than that—it hw. •;ono into, detail, and, with the assist- j an'co of Home models, has evolved sj' jomprehensivo scheme which will L'~ jutlined. f!i3 Report. .#-... The following is a copy, of the Association's report that has been pic :i:ired for submission to the bodiu .concerned: — ' , /; While it lias from time to thv.c been found necessary to adopt sow measures 1 for attending to the tee;.' of the - poorer classes of the coinniunity, no systematic and economic:-': method has yet been adopted. "Most of this kind of work nt pre-, sent resolves itself into the oxtracti.jn of teeth only. The scliemo hero~ introduced touches upon every branch oj dental science.

"It is now proposed that tho mem hers of the Wellington Dontal Assccia tion, by giving up their tlmo' a:v. skill in a carefully allotted a;ii uniform manner, render to the. p'oprsj classes financial assistance, and cnalil., such class to obtain proper dental .'attention with only tho cost of materia to bo thnir contribution.

"All dentists 'of tho Association form tho honorary staff to attend tin ward, and they- will bo in'attendant' two hours over.i morning in tho week.

"Tlie .Secretary will keep t-ncj authorities of the Chnritablo AiBoai'l and the District Hospital advised from timo to time of the names of tho members of the Wellington Dental Association, and only thc-ss names shall be recognised by the saiij Charitable Aid board and District Hospital, and all communications and business is to be dono through t. ■. Secretary of the Association." . " OharitablD Aid" aiul " f'.,* Patients." In brief, the proposals are as I (1) The Wellington Dental Assoc',.-.' iion offers to conduct a dental v/a/v. under't-ho auspices of Iho Charite -' j Aid Board, the Wellington Benevo! h\ Trustees, and the Wellington lios';. . ,j Trustees; forming with the lattc: •, dental department of the Hospital.

(2) Tho name to bo the Wolliv:." Dental Hospital. (3) Tho objects of tho offer arc to give efficient dental advice, (b) perform such' treatment as may be their power t'l discharge; (c) to iie.anciai assistance to indigent pen

requiring aid. (■.[) Tho honorary staff trill be in • tendanee for two hours per diem.' (5) The Association wilt attend such people at sue!) hospital that i. ba ablo to pay nominal fees for d;v work, nueh fees being bssed upon '. cost price of.tho materials used. (Gl Tho Association makes no chr.. whatever for members' timo when tending to ali or any patients. (7) Patients can bo classed nsiitTO heads, _ (aj charitable aids, . (b) pay patients. (S) Charitable aid patients can, v?" the exception opacified,, obtain ali i. vice and treatment free of east. (9) Pay pstipnls will be charged cording to schedule list appended. Clauses 10 and 11 deal v. ith cha:. 1 ■ for pay clients (which it is m • deemed advisable to publish until 11 bodies concerned have considered • : matter). Charitable aid patients who mar quire work wherein material i? :.. p'.ied will have to pay at the rat 7o per cent, of schedule fee:; i; figures are purposely omitted). !-/ material may be in the form of denture or dentures or filling mat: n. Such work will be dono at the .u: ■ hers' private rooms. There must lino. 1 beet l clo-x* : 200 I'ov;lei j. pi"Si nl at thy' Inn '.vanning of the Wi.'ilinjMwii (T palatial pavaliolt ill Word:',',;','. Street, formally i-pened I"..! i'; . The President (Mr. Thox. 'iusl i so:ai' member* had Inr.iin.'ht That. '.' ■ nov," pavilion would iin;>-.■!':! vhe ri ■ iiiiamv:;. lint, the jlinrttfiv vi « pl?:is('d wit.li the re.iulr, and v eonlide.lit thai they had done the ri. ' t. tiling. A |j"ief,iiv- of (lie late x .Me! I .'"for, vi:c ai'i'',iufe:' of tsov.-,:' Wellington, had been presented by ;vid;;,\v, ami had been placed in the v ~ pavilion. No. 1 Battalion of the Wollin;:tie' School Cadets paraded at the Centra' Drill shed yest'.'riiay- afternoon, hi:.' held a successful rchea-sil of t "ceremonial' 7 for this afternoon's mmonstration at -Newtown Vark. T1 parade, state was as fojows: —.M'.. Cook (Captain Wilson), 47: Thot-ndn-i (Captain Dyson). 4C; Brorklyn (Cantain Look), 30 ; Karori (Captain Mono<rhan), 27; Wadestown (Sergeant Holmes), 22.