A STATE DENTISTRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 55, 10 July 1913, Page 3

A STATE DENTISTRY.

THE CURE OF DENTAL CARIES

[Per Press Association.]

Wellington, July 10. Proposals which aim at the establishment of a system of State dentistry were laid before the Minister of Education (Mr Allen), and the Minister of Public Health (Mr Rhodes), to-day •by a deputation from the New Zealand Dental Association. Dr. Cox (president) said the Association had conducted , "!in examination during the last few years and had shown that the percentage of children who were suffering from dental caries was nearly ninety, which was a grave state of affairs. The question of unclean mouths in children overshadowed all other physical defects. He cited what was being done in other couptries. and lie suggested that a scheme ,be inaugurated whereby the results of State dentistry could be ascertained in a small way so as to discover its effect on the efficiency of pupils The four centres should ho taken first, and there should he one State dentist in each centre. A thoroughly equipped room would be required at one

big school, and probably the services of an attendant. The estimated cost at each centre was something like £ISOO. After such an institution had been working for a time, the Government could judge whether a larger scheme should be gone on w.tfi. It would be necessary to have a dental adviser, who would be subservient to the Department controlling the system. Mr Allen said both Mr Rhodes and himself sympathised with the deputation. The Government had already adopted a system of physical training and a scheme for medical inspection in schools. If the evidence forthcoming showed that.the latter was a success, the Government would have to go further with it. As to the deputation’s proposal, he would consult the Cabinet and would see what could bo done. e- - -