DENTAL TREATMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1923, Page 3

DENTAL TREATMENT.

SUGGESTION FOR STATE SERVICE. [BY TELEGRAPH—PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] CHRISTCHURCH, June L A sugested policy for the State dental service was the subject of a- paper read at tho Dental onference by Dr. Warren of Auckland. The urgency and immensity of the general need for dental treatment could hardly be exaggerated. Some indication of the increasing public: concern in the matter was found in the demand for an extension of the system of dental treatment for school children. ’These events showed that the time was last appioaching when the Government would also be called upon to make provision lor the treatment of adults. JCxoorienee had shown ii was impossible for private practitioners to provide the necessary dental treatment on a scale which should have an appreciablo elloci on the mass of dental disease existing in the Dominion. The Government was the only authority capable of coping with the problem, therefore he thought it was the duty of dentists to advise and assist in establishing a public dental service. A suitable basis dor this service was contained in the co-operation of the Government with hospital boa ids. the service to commence operations in the existing dental hospitals. This would avoid much pieliminary exjien.se and reduce Hie capital outlay. Treatment should be strictly utilitarian, and not to include such expensive matters as gold crowns, or bridge woik, and the scale ol fees should tie on a basis which would pay running expenses. Eligibility to undergo treatment should bo based on income, a very generous allow am e being made In heads of families and their dependents. The servi.es should be extended to country distiivts as soon as the organisation in cities was completed. Mr Warren said lie had no ground for the belief that privet" practice would be adversely affected. because a similar scheme in England, though conducted by private dentists, showed that rather than piojuditing private dentists, the extension of dental treatment had been an important factor in stimulating a desire for dental attention. In a discussion which followed. Mi Warren was congratulated upon having submitted a constructive scheme for the Assoaiat inn to consider. Several delegates agreed with me suggestion that a State dental service was inevitable- Tho fact that 75 per cent of New Zealand senior cadets, examined by medical men, had been found to be dentally defective, was quoted as a reason lor dealing with the problem as early as possible.