DENTAL ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1921, Page 4

DENTAL ASSOCIATION

WKDLTNGLnN. Mn.v 21. The seventeenth annual meeting of the New Zealand Dental Association has just concluded. During the course of four days’ sittings many important subjects were discussed by the sixty representatives present, and a number of valuable clinical demonstrations were given illustrating some of the latest developments in dental science. The 'President Mr Nelson Mitchell (Auckland) in addressing the gathering, said that the. association must aim to reach the goal of reducing dental disease to a negligible quantity, if not eradicating it altogether. The association had been successful in establishing four dental hospitals in the large ceutres for the benefit of those unable to pay for private treatment. These institutions were accomplishing a great deal of good, but were unable to cope with the great mass of treatment required. He referred to the establishment of dental bursaries and compulsory dental treatment of school children, and said that in future the watchword of dentists must he prevention. They must keep in touch, with every branch of research along those lines, and see that knowledge was ini pared to mothers and children of the coming generation. The annual report referred to the successful launching of the school dental scheme under tlie able management of Dr T. A. Hunter, as the most important dental event of the year. The recent newspaper controversy over school dental service was discussed and it was resolved to deprecate discussion of matters of dental policy in the public press, and take steps to prevent recurrences. It was mentioned that twentythree new students had entered the dental school this year, but only five ■bursaries had been taken. The executive council was to advise the authorities regarding the number of fresh dentists required annually to maintain the supply. Mr O. V. Davies, of the Otago Dental College was elected vice-president and president-elect-of the Association; Dr E. L. Renton (Auckland), chairman of the executive; Mr Claude H. Moses was re-appointed hon secretary and Mr B. S. Finn (Auckland) hon. treasurer. It was resolved to try to arrange that the next annual meeting should ■ held in Nelson.