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49
It is to be borne in mind that these cases are to be seen
from the point of view of a Public Authority who cannot
afford to treat in terms of Park Lane (a) from the point of
view of cost; (b) from the point of view of time, and (c) from
the point of the difficulty in getting cases to attend.
It must also be borne in mind in dealing with these
cases that it is quite different from a Dental Hospital where
every person who comes is so to speak converted. We have
unfortunately to deal with what we may call a considerable
number of Dental 'sinners,' and having got them to the
penitential form we want the treatment carried out as simply
and as rapidly as possible.
May I point out that I disagree with the view that nothing
but the best must be taught to the Dental Students, and for
this reason. Whilst admitting that all Students must be
taught the very best and latest form of treatment, no matter
how expensive or how prolonged, I think the fact should be
faced that there are going to be large numbers of your
Students, who are going to take up in the near future wholetime
Dental appointments under Public Authorities whose
method of treatment will have to be economical, rapid and
based on the idea of getting the best result possible for a
comparatively small outlay in money and time. Further
with Dentistry coming into its own, a large number of your
Students will be practising among people whose means are
strictly limited, and amongst whom it will be useless to suggest
expensive and prolonged treatment, when a useful denture
and a satisfactory mouth can be obtained with possibly
not so satisfactory an appearance but functionally sound, for
a comparatively small fee, whereas if these cases are offered
nothing but expensive and prolonged treatment the answer
will be habitually in the negative, and will result in no treatment
at all except in the bigger towns where there is a Dental
Hospital.
I am sure that your Students should be taught the two
entirely different sets of circumstances, as if they are only
going to deal with the well-to-do patients under ideal conditions
they are not going to be taught how to make an income
amongst those whose incomes are limited.