CARE OF THE TEETH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1058, 22 February 1911, Page 6

CARE OF THE TEETH.

T WELLINGTON HOSPITAL PROPOSAL. TO EDUCATE THE TUBLIC. Tho Wellington Hospital Board is con- 1 sidering the practicability of extending t hospital work. The substance of this t proposal is contained in tho following 1 motion, which, moved by Mr. A. S. Hind- 1 marsh, and seconded by Mr. E. C. Kirk, was carried at yesterday's meeting:— That Dr. Hardwick Smith be asked to furnish to the board a report of the functions of the Dental Department of the hospital with suggestions how to extend to tho general public opportunities for dental treatment. Tho following interesting report was then read by tho medical superintendent:— "I have spent much time in thinking out a workable scheme, and have had , interviews with several of the leading members of the dental profession in Wellington. It is very essential that even those who cannot atford it should be able to have the services of the leading members of the dental profession at their aisposal. A moderate tee could be charged wmch would cover tho working, expenses of the proposed dental department. \Vc, •as a profession, are realising more and more every day the paramount, importance of oral are often Handicapped in our work by the patient's inability to afford, or by their neglect in obtaining, treatment of their teeth and mouths. I feel certain that we shall be able to stop much disease if we can get the public to realise the great importance of real cleanliness. I hope this motion will bo the cause of much good and bo a means of educating the public, especially that part of tho public who neglect or do not realise tho importance of sound teeth. The - mouth is the chamber through which most diseases of a serious nature find their way and if that chamber is kept swept and garnished much of that, disease will be eradicated. I must be excused in prefacing my report by these few remarks for I feel very strongly the importance of this matter. "Tho present function of the dental department at tho hospital is limited ; chiefly to extractions with a few other cases such as broken jaws, etc. These operations are undertaken by our honor- ' ory dental surgeon who visits tho hos- . pitnl at fixed periods every week and is nlwavs pleased to undertake any duties asked of him. His visits during tho year 1 have been nearly 100 in number, most of 1 which have been for extracting teeth. ! We have not attempted in the present de- . partment other work which consists of ; stopping, crowning, and providing new sets of teeth, but in the following sugi gestions I hopo to include all these forms of treatment. As I havo previously said I have conferred with several ;if the leadI ing members of the dental profession and as the result I havo brought beio.-a you J tho following suggestions:— '. 1. That tho department be at tho hospital, under the management of the board, and under the control of the medical superintendent, who will consult with the hon. dental staff, and that, matters of .an important nature be reported to. the Hospital Committee for their consideration. 2. That a.sufficient number of dental surgeons bo appointed from the members of tho Dental Association. •/ 3. That the hon. dental surgeons bo recommended ior appointment to tho llospital Hoard by tnp Dental Associa- ! tion. 5 i. That tho dental staff bo an honor- > ary one, but that absolute out-of-pocket expenses bo guaranteed. 1 5. That ior tho first. few months the ', hon. dental stalf be asked, to complete all work, that tney be paid the absolute 3 cost of such worK. Tuat tho expenses 1 be scheduled alter the inauguration oi [ the schemo after consultation with the .<■. i .dental staff. ~ ~'nm:i:>> m , 6. That when tho scheme is establish;' ed on a firm basis, the Hospital board bo asked to appoint a dental mechanic, : who will undertako all the mechanical i work necessary, and so relievo the hon. * dental staff of any expenses in their : work. . • ',',,," t 7. That the patients treated.shall be e those who cannot afford fees for prij vate treatment. 8. That the patients 'needing treat- * ment shall bo recommended as is done e by tho patients needing medical and * surgical treatment. They shall get an F order for hospital treatment from, a D ■ member of tho dental profession, and that the order, be.endorsed by a further 6 order from a member of the, Hospital 0 and Charitable Aid Board. ' - N 5 9. That all fees charged shall be paid to the Hospital Board, as is done in l " tho case of medical patients. These '" fees shall be nominal, and shall go to ! cover tho expenses of the dental de- • partment. Those patients who are un--1 able to pay fees shall be allowed treatB ment free. _........ r 10. The scale of charges to be fixed 0 later, in conjunction with the dental 0 6taff. r 11. That a room be provided at the i- hospital for the work of the departf- ment, and that hours be fixed, 6uch ft hours to be fixed by the staff. r . 12. That all, dental appliances be ob- '•• tained for such a room at a cost on a 0 Tough estimate of .£IOO to l " 13. That a small room bo utilised for l ? the convenience of the mechanic,' and. tt that tho necessary apparatus be obtain- ? Ed for such a room. , \[ 14. That tho Hospital Board provide nil instruments and material necessary N for carrying on tho department. a 15. That the cost of tho scheme after 6 tho initial expense of obtaining instru--1 ments and materials should not at first [ cost more than .£3OO per annum, in,j eluding the salary of the mechanic. It 0 will probably bo to a great extent self--6 supporting. o ,"I do not think it is necessary to make i- any further suggestions at this stage, as n I think I have said sufficient to givo you ft un idea of tho lines on which I consider d it advisable to work. What we want is o an efficient and economical means by o which patients who, by circumstances, i- aro unablo to pay for first-class treatn ment," can get that treatment. These t- suggestions, I feel certain; if carried'out, \) will cnablo them to do so. The Dcntai ir Association some years ago mado the sugs- gestion that they were willing to do work i- of this kind, but the matter did not then s, receive support. • I feel sure that they s- will do all in their power to help you in o this matter, for they realise the' great y necessity of such a department, and what e an' enormous amount of good it will do d tho country. They feel, as wo do, that i- such a deDartment will be of great use e both iu educating the public in preveni- tion of disease, which after all is tho best treatment, and in the actual treatment of disease when it has become established."