£100,000 LOST YEARLY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1809, 23 July 1913, Page 4

£100,000 LOST YEARLY.

THROUGH DEFECTIVE TEETH,

EXPERT SURGEON'S OPINION.

Regarding the subject of State dentistry and allied problems, Dr. H. Percy Pickorell, JI.D., C1i.8., M.D.S., L.D.S., England, Professor of Dentistry and Director of the Dental School, University of Otago, speaking.to a Dominion representative, said: "1 should like to say a little as regards the actual practice 01 dentistry in New Zealand from the j>oint of view of one who, to a certain oxient, may bo regarded ns an outsider. 1 have been in this country now some six years, sufficiently long to have gained an intimate acquaintance both with regard to tho extent of dental disease in the country and with the aims and objects of the dental profession,' but at the same time not sufficiently long to have lost the faculty of looking at tilings from ;i stranger's point of View. I haya. been very much struck in my travels lip and down New Zealand by three things—(l) The very largo number of dentists in practice here; (2) by tho fact that they all seem to be very busy and to bo working long hours eacn day; and (3) by the unanimous and genuine desire on tho part of everyone in tho dental profession to alleviate the condition of tlio children. I am convinced from what 1 know that the dentists themselves would tackle this problem if they could, but they have not the time; and,, Secondly, the parents of many of tho children in the primary schools do not yet recognise either the seriousness of the position or the great advantage to be gained by -their childittn having dental disease properly treated or eliminated. "The proposal to establish a State dental service has my hearty support. It is worthy of adoption bo!h from a philanthropic and a patriotic point of view.

"Is there a heart so stoney, is there a people so deaf, is there a Government so indifferent that the cry for the children's sake cannot reach them? Apart altogether from the needless pain and suffering caused to many a gcor little child from the affliction of caries of tho teeth nnd inflammatory jaw conditions, howcan a child develop either physically or mentally when the gateway of its bbdy is in both an inficctious and infected condition? "On patriotic grounds it behoves those in authority to see that the fitness of our U.ce is fully maintained, that our children arc placed under no unnecessary handicap in the inevitable economic struggles of tho nations which is coming in the near future. Other countries are realising this, and are wisely putting their children in as effectivx l condition as possible. And I say it is distinctly unfair to the children of the British race in this Dominion that they should bo placed under a handicap which does not apply to children of other races.

"On economic grounds alon?, such a policy as has been indicated would be a very souiiul undertaking—an excellent investment. There would be undoubtedly less loss of. school hour?. Ires loss of working time through ill-licalth, and there would be increased efficiency in mental and manunl work. The total output of the Dominion would bo undoubtedly increased; there would lie a marked lowering of tho incidence of other diseases, sucli as infections fevers—especially scarlet fever—joint affections, and various forms of rheumatisms, anaemias, and cancers, and obviously, therefore, there would be a considerable decrease in the costly upkeep of general hospitals. This statement I have 110 hesitation in making from my combined experience as a medical man and a dental surgeon, on tlio staffs of hospitals, both here and in the Old Country.

"I believe that the economic loss in this country through defective and diseased teeth cannot be less than .£IOO,OOO »er annum at least. This is .based on a very low estimate. Every manufacturer knows tliat anything that will increase the efficiency of his machinery will increase his output, 'his wealth, and his welfare. The saima thing applies to tho State. Anything which the Government can do to increase the health, the well-being, and working power of the young adults of this country will bring its own reward and increase the health and wscilth of the community at larpe. "I should like to suggest as a logical proposition to the Minister for Customs that if any difficulty is found in raising sufficient money to effectively deal with this trouble, a duty or tax should he imposed upon those articles which have been definitely proved to be largely concerned in the production of dental disease. I refer particularly to sweetmeats, chocolates, sweet biscuits, and 'every similarly refined and highly concentrated article of consumption which can only' be regarded as, luxuries. There is no doubt that many tons of teeth-destroying substances are blning imnorted into, and manufactured in, this country. without paying any recompense for the harm they do. There should l>e no difficulty in arranging that these artioles should pav sufficient, taxation to defray all the cost, both of surgical and prophylactic mrans of treating diseases which they are directly concerned in causing."