SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1920, Page 2

SCHOOL DENTISTRY.

(To (lie Editor.) Sir,—l understand that Mr. Parr has hrought forward a scheme that every year twenty school nurses receive trainiii" for a period extending over eighteen mouths for the State dentistry service, to do simply fillings and extractions for children In the primary classes. Cases of acute oral sepsis with its attendant physiological disorders, are not to be attended to. Is this fair to the children or their parents? Or. again, Is It fair to the taxpayers of New Zealand who have to pay for the upkeep of these women' Why this unnecessary expense? In two years' time (here will be thirty well-trained graduates from the Otag-o University Dental Schoolenough to form the nucleus of tlie service The .Otago school will put through at least twenty dentists a year after this vear composed mostly of Government bursars destined lo the State service, and this will be enough to staff the service in its initial stages Better twenty qualified dentists than twenty untrained women. It is preposterous that a scheme of such rast Importance to the rising generation should have been fostered in absolute secrecy. Dr. Piekerlll, who Is recognised as an authority with twenty years' teaching experience, should surely 'have been consulted in formulating such a scheme while he has been refused all details, and Mr. Parr, who cannot be oxpected to know as much about dental treatment, has preferred to rely upon Mr. Hunter, ignoring tile opinion of Dr. Pickerill and the resolution of every dental association throughout lie country. Mr. Parr claims the support of the NewZealand Dental Association. This is certainly not the case. His sole support conies from the executive of the New Zealand Denial Association, which Is contrary to (he wlshe" of the members of that body, namely the dflntAslj themselves. Both Mr. Parr' and Mr. Nelson »Mtchell have cast slurs upon the Otago University denial school. The degree conferred by the Otago school is re co" nised as of a remarkably high standing, ami Is second to none throughout the world We as dental students are compelled to spend at least rour years at the Otago dental school at a cost of approximately e.m for our course, while llu-.se school nurses are to be paid for eighteen months' training. It seems most unfair, this policy of Mr. Parr's particularly so to those of us who are bursars After eighteen months these nurses can command the same salary of £250 as a properly trained dentist. Secondly, as a woman dental student, I wish to point out that II affects our position oven more than that of the men, as in the minds of most people naturally we will be placed In the same position as these women. By this method these people may in time be able to practise on the same footing as a registered dentist—l am, etc., MYRA WHITESIDE, Dental Student, Otago University, Nov. 24, 1920.