SHORTAGE OF DENTAL PRACTITIONERS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1917, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF DENTAL PRACTITIONERS

DISCUSSED BY UNIVERSITY SENATE. By 'tfelegrapli.—Press Association. Auclcland, January "22. At the University Senate, a critical no sition with regard to dentistry was disclosed. Mr. Mahon moved—"That in view of the fact that since the passing of the Dentists Act, IflflS, the number of students qualifying to practise as dental surgeon is wholly inadequate to the wants of the community, and that :is the increasing shortage of qualified dental practitioners constitutes a grave menace to public health, the Board of Studies be asked to draft for the certificate of proficiency in dental surgery a modified course that would not involve an attendance for more than six months at the. Otago Dental School." The mover said his object in bringing the point before the Senate was that the Otago School of Dentistry would be encouraged to carry out the work for w'lich it was established. Three yei:s was the time necessary under the old system to secure qualification as a dental surgeon. About 05 per cent, of those practising qualified under this system. The present course covered four years, three of which the student spent in Dunedin. This proved a barrier to apprentices in the far-away centres. If the course suggested were adopted, use could be made of the existing resources of local university colleges and local dental hospital apprentices might under experts undergo a course of training in operative dental surgery, stopping, and the use of anaesthetics, this training being rounded oft' by a short course at the Otago Dental School. The matter was referred to the Medical Committee for report.