asked the Minister for Health whether any examination has been made of the teeth of all adolescents in Ireland; if so, when; and, if not, what was the basis on which he stated that ninety-nine per cent. of Irish adolescents are afflicted with dental caries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dental Caries.
6.
Mr. Ryan
As regards the first part of the question, the answer is "no." On the occasion on which I made the statement, I reminded the House of the results of the dental caries survey conducted towards the end of 1952 under the aegis of the Medical Research Council. A representative sample of the child population in the age groups 5 to 6 years, 7 to 8 years and 12 to 13 years was then dentally examined and the result showed, not surprisingly, a worsening position as regards dental caries with increasing age and in the age group 12 to 13 only 0.9 per cent. had complete dentitions free from caries. Incidentally, no less than 68.2% of the children in this age group, then coming into their teens, had 5 or more diseased, missing or filled permanent teeth.
These same children are now 8 years older and they form part of the age groups 13 to 14 years, 15 to 16 years and 20 to 21 years. Since dental caries is a disease which cannot be cured, the effect of dental caries on the teeth of these young people would certainly be no less pronounced now than it was eight years ago; indeed the inescapable inference from the results of the survey is that it would be worse. In the light of the evidence that 98.6 per cent. of the 7 to 8 age group and 99.1 per cent. of the 12 to 13 age group examined eight years ago had been afflicted with dental caries, it is beyond doubt that 99 per cent. of our adolescents have suffered or are suffering from this disease.
Surely the correct lesson to be drawn from those figures is that a proper dental service, properly staffed and equipped, is needed, and not the present cheap stunt of the Fluoridation Bill which the Minister has before the House?
That is a non sequitur.
It is the logical conclusion to be drawn from the Minister's remarks.