SCHOOL DENTISTRY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 49, 22 November 1920, Page 7

SCHOOL DENTISTRY

STATEMENT BY .THE MINISTER REPLY TO PROFESSOR PICKERILL The attention of the Minister, of Education and-Health (tho Hon. C. J. Parr) was called on Saturday to tho telegraphed remarks of Professor Pickerill, Demi of the Dental Sohool, Duncdin, concerning the proposed system of school dentistry. ■ ■ 'Mr. "Parr'said Professor PickoriU's statement was as misleading as it was inaccurate. "In his desire to block our Bchome he • does • not scruple to be very unfair," added Mr. Parr. "This • critic Rays that the proposed system is not just to tho taxpayers, beca'uso the State dentists are appointed to tho four chief centres only, and the smaller towns'are being i neglected. ! Such is not the; caso. Within the cast couple, of months wo havo established clinics • not only in the four main-centres, but in several of tho boroughs as well. Theso institutions are already doing excellent • 'work. Theso clinics will be extended to other centres to soon as we can get competent dentists end suitable premises. ... Prevsntive Dentistry the Ideal. "It has been suggested by the opponents of the scheme that tho Government ie proposing 'to employ women, for the .treatment of.;mild cases, and to all serioue dental disease in the schools. I inust state emphatically that this is pot the case. . I have already made, it clear.that the State programme consists of'two parts, first the employment of registered dentists, and, secondly, the employment of .specially trained dental nurses. Preventive dentistry is the ideal. IWe must attend to the simple cases lest ;"they become .serious,: No one knows better than Professor Pickerill tho insidious rapidity of dental caries.' To concentrate on serious eases, would mean no preventive dontistry and a continuance of serious cases until such, trmo as we had • n sufficient staff to cope with the whole ma 63 of dental disease. So great are the' diffioulti.es that it is only within 'ttie last few weeks that the Department 'has "been aTile to make'a .start at-all. ■Professor Pickerill's attempt to arouso enmity to the scheme from other districts is unfair tactics. If tho Dnnedin critic-were wholly disinterested' and sincere he'.oiight to be nlensed that the Do'partraeht ha 9._ already been «ble to establish' facilities for treatment in .centres, in which live half the'population of .the' Dominion. ' , ■< '■ Ths Employment, of Women." "Dr. Piokerill objects' to the- employment; of women dental mmes. He wishes :as to "wait until we .obtain, as he ; terms it, 'a, sufficiency of .highly-paid,, properly-qualified dentists.' The answjer is obvious. Dr. Pickerill had ample op- ' portunity to place these same views tiefore an authoritative conference representing tlio dentists of New Zealand some three months ago. The conference, by n majority of nearly three to one. turned, lim down.' Mr.. Nelson Mitchell, presi--dent of tho New Zealand Dental Associa- ■ tion, at' Auckland, on Friday 1 last, explained to the Press that'the Dental Association was satisfied that our new ; scheme offers the only" reasonable hope of success, further, Mr. Mitchell 6tate<l that 'though, the Otago people talk of the •*" disadvantage of half-trained women/ it was a fact that.after a. two years' intensive course of training in simple filling,. : extraction of temporary teeth and dental hygiene, these nurses will have a higher training in their own .branch than the average dental'student. Qualified dentists would direct the nurses' work and chart the operations to be performed by them in the same manner as a doctor directed ■ ft qualified nurse to' perform certain . minor operations. In Mr. Mitchell's opinion tho impression sought to be created by Dr. Pickerill that the work will

.bo of nn inferior quality is entirely erroneous,' 'and he believed dentists would have no hesitation in allowing their own children to be attended by the qualified dental nurses. Further; ■' Mr.' Mitchell 6triick' the vital question when 1 ' ho Said that so soon as,the public realised their duty to their own health in having- regular dental attention, all dentists would be worked to their utmost capacity, and it was. therefore, essential to launch this independent movement for the treatment of school cMldren. ' I am satisfied that Mr. Nelson Mitchell reflects the considered opinion of the men of practical experience best qualified to judge. Dr. Pickerill makes suggestions for dental clinics and ambulances. No one knows better than the critic himself- that these things are in our programme and will soon bo furnished to the public. Tho new scheme is on right lines, and notwithstanding a little opposition, will go ■forward to success.".