LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SCHOOL DENTISTS
Sir,—As the point has repeatedly been, stressed that the opposition to the Government's scheme is confined to Dunedin, ttio executive of the Wellington branch desire to place their views before tho public through the medium of your papei;. Tho fact cannot bo gainsaid that the principle of the scheme—employing women who will not receive tho same full training as those dentists whoso duty it is to minister to the dental needs of the public—has been unmistakably condemned by the Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Wellington, and AVnnganui branches. This statement can be verified by reference to your own columns. This should' dispose of the contention that Dunedin is tho only centlro opposing.
On whult grounds can the Department justify its bald statement that women are more competent and fitted to trca!) children requiring dental attention than men ? Tho Director must bo well aware that up to the present) date tliero liavo been only fifteen women dentists registered in New Zealand, and that there are not more than five now practising. Without in any way wishing to beliille the exceptional women who qualify, wo would ask: Do the public show; preference to women doctors and dentists in the medical and dental treatment of their children? , ,
Tho Department has a plain statement to go on, itliat 90 per cent, of the children in this Dominion require dental treatment, and slates definitely that the women will only be trained in an intensive course to .'undertake "simple" fillings and extractions, "working," be it) carefully observed, "under the supervision of qualified dentists." The Wellington branch, which is 'opposing the schomc, is prepared, to show by statistics compiled from a careful examination at Wellington Dental Hospital of a large local school, "thaU there are very few fillings wluoh are "simnle" which will be met with in the children of even primer classes, who arc to be dealt with bv these new "dental nondescripts"; and the experience of those married practitioners who have given careful attention t<> their own children from their earliest years goes ha.nd-in-hand with these statistics. These men know how very difficult the fillins of children's teeth really is. •
It has been Tirpedi that the Director cannot ask the Government for suffioiemi funds to employ fully trained and qualified dentists, male or female, and so some more economical scheme has had to be substituted, with the result that these partly-trained women are to be employed. , Now, we venture to ask the Government, through Hie Minister or his adviser, to inform the public in your columns on the following points:— - 1. The exact period of training to bo given these women.
2. Where will they be trained—or mora exactly, will a new building have to be erected for their training?
3. What salary will these women be paid during their period of training? (It is stated definitely that "preference will be given to applicants who are registered 'drained nurses," and it is highly improbable that these women will be able to devote two years of their lifo for training purposes without some ronumeration.)
•t. If the trainees come to Wellington will tho Government make any grant against their board and lodging? , 5. Wluvt staff will be required to train these women? Will tho supervisor already appointed at a salary of J2700 per annum be ablo to undertake the training himself? ,6: If (as has already been stated) these women are to work "under the supervision of qualified dentists," how many qualified dentists will be required to supervise these women, and at what salary? ; 7. Will the Government provide assistant to ' these new of opera tors? And, if ?o, what salary will be paid? The above questions relate to the economic aspect; but a far more important, pcrliap' tho most important and farreaching point, is this (and it should appeal to pareta'»: On whoso unfortunate children will these women be trained?
In conclusion, the Wellington branch urges that it has been shown tlmt it will take ;l.wo years at least before thciie women will be available, and tha'J there will llien bo some thirty fully qualified and properly trained dentist? available. If tho Minister were really sincere he would not allow the question of expense to weigh in the balance, but would offer adequate, salary to these No expense is too great for efficiency. No treatment at all is bettef than unskilful treatment; and unless an operator is aware of all the pitfalls lying in wait for vlie unwnry there is great danger of unskilful treatment.—! am, etc., E. GORDON .BENDER, Hon. Secretary (For the Executive, Wellington Branch . N.Z.8.A.).
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Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 68, 14 December 1920, Page 7
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767LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 68, 14 December 1920, Page 7
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