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127
was less than adequate. It has been said that dentistry consists of
two parts—one is prevention and the other "plumbing". Today,
as we learn of the highest achievements in most fields of science
and technology, it is difficult to understand why the elimination of
a largely preventable complaint such as dental disease is left to
depleted teams with insufficient facilities, particularly as the
remedy is known and merely awaits application to stem the everincreasing
prevalence.
Reduction of dental caries and periodontal disease can certainly
be effected by a change in dietary regimen but it would seem that,
in general, the public is not prepared for such a step—admiration
for the plump "bonny baby" and the "affluent figure" still persists.
Prevalence of dental decay is greatly influenced by the frequency
rather than the size of meals and the habit of "nibbling" is widespread.
By definition "habit" is a "settled practice" and, in this
case particularly old habits die hard. If the "in-between-meals and
sweet beverages" adherents could be weaned from this habit to
one of "basic meals only", a great advance would have been made
with side benefits concerning the control of obesity and a reduction
in heart disease risk.
Advocation of such a change should be a major theme of all
dental health education as should support for fluoridation. Much
adverse publicity has been given to the apparent infringement on
personal freedom by the addition of fluoride into water supplies,
thereby leaving the consumer no option but to accept. Few people
realise that the unnecessarily controversial project of fluoridation
only concerns the adjustment of already existing natural fluoride
to a level found in areas where its beneficial effects on teeth,
namely, their high resistance to dental caries, were noted many
years ago. Extensive research has proved the safety of fluoridation
and no better example could be quoted of its efficacy than that of
Kilmarnock. Here substantial benefits attained after a considerable
period of fluoridation were lost when the measure was discontinued.
Public Health dental services exist to fight dental disease. With
this objective in mind, our service did what it could by way of
treatment and dental health education to further this aim but, in
the final analysis, it is the public's prerogative to accept or reject
professional guidance in respect of personal or public preventive
measures. It is to be hoped that all responsible persons concerned
directly and indirectly with the promotion of health within the
community will bring their influence to bear on public opinion to
support the simple and economic truism that prevention is better
than cure."