STATE DENTISTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1813, 28 July 1913, Page 11

STATE DENTISTRY.

A MEMBER'S VIEWS. AN ESTIMATE OF COST. In Parliament a few days ago Mr. J. A. Young, member for Wailcato, made a vigorous speech on the question of Stato dentistry. Amplifying liis remarks to a Dominion representative, Mr. Young said: "You will recollect that Dr. Cox, president of the Dental Association, urged that the State should undertake tho establishment of four dental surgeries, one in each centre, such surgeries to bo associated with one of the larger schools, thus bringing the teeth of the children into a state of efficiency. Tho idea is that these children shall not only keep their mouths in a prophylactic state for their own benefit, but that the experiment shall be farreaching. The experiment will first of all enable a test to bo made of the working efficiency of tho children operated upon, and, secondly, enable comparisons to be made with schools in which, the ohildren have not tho advantage of dental treatment. The result will bo to demonstrate to the public health and scholastic authorities the economic value which this State service would havo on a universal scale, all going to establish a fact which is generally recognised by all civilised peoples, that a healthy individual both in body and mind is tho greatest asset of the State. To-day dentistry is looked upon as a necessity among the better-educated and wealthier classes. Amongst the poorer classes a healthy mouth is looked upon as a luxury. This is the difficulty which the Dental Association is asking the State to combat. It has been proved in this country that between 70 and 90 per cent, of the children attending the primary schools are affected with dental disease, and that no more than 5 per cent, of these children ever visit a dentist except, perhaps, for an occasional of teeth. Thus it is seen that hero is a problem for the Stato to tackle, so that every individual child may have an_ equal opportunity to get tho best out of lifo, so far as a healthy mouth will permit. In support of this scheme, Mr. Young has prepared a schedule in regard to the cost of maintenance of tho proposed schools. These may be sert out as follow: — £ & 'Two chairs 50 Dentist's salary 300 Gas equipment 30 Kent 75 Sanitary fittings 15 Attendant 50 Instalments ... 30 Materials 75 Cabinet 15 Miscellaneous 25 Furniture 30 Potty expenses 15 Books, etc 5

In each city the total cost for the first year would be .£2780. This would be subsequently reduced to .£2160 per annum. Mr. Young suggests that in these State institutions only nopelessly diseased teeth should be dealt with, and that the dentist in charge should confine himself to stopping all teeth capable of treatment, the treatment of irregularly plac«<l teeth in the jaw, and tho making of plates where necessary. He suggests that no work of a highly technioal character involving the use of gold or platinum should be undertaken. He is hopeful also that onoo the parents become familiarised with the benefits to bo derived \from dental treatment some of them will contribute small sums towards the cost of the institution. Such amounts would go to the credit of the Department, Mr. Young foresees that tho day will come when most of tho healing professions will have Stato auxiliaries for pooplo who oannot afford skilled treatment. At the same time there will always bo plenty of room for the private practitioner. The trouble at present is that New Zealand is not producing a crop of dentists to cope with the real needs of tho people; that is to say there are not enough dental practioners to cope with the amount of work to be dono if tho health of tho populace is to be maintained.