DEFECTIVE TEETH AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 164, 11 July 1906, Page 2

DEFECTIVE TEETH AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.

A deputation from the Auckland Dental Association, consisting of Drs. Cox and Warren, and Messrs. A. M. Carter and C. Moses, waited on the Board of Education this morning, to urge the necessity for measures to be taken for the proper inspection and care of school children's teeth. Dr. Cox spoke of the bad state of the teeth of school children and the poor people, not in a position to pay the regular fees. The matter had already been represented to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and it was a subject of great and increasing moment, that a proper inspection should be made of the children's teeth, and that a dental hospital with a qualified superintendent and honorary assistants should be established at some central position, where skilled treatment would he given at nominal rates. Mr. Carter thought the general public were not fully aware of the bad state of their children's teeth and of the evil consequences which arose therefrom. There were hundreds of children attending the public schools who were not in a fit state to do so, by reason of the state of their teeth. It was a matter, however, that would foTce itself on the community, and at no very distant time. Mr. Warren spoke of the prevalence of bacteria in a child's mouth which was filled with teeth in all stages of decay, and attributed much ill-health and facial deformity to this cause. The Chairman endorsed the remarks made, and said that the matter was now before the Hospital Board. Possibly, by acting together some definite scheme for the treatment of the teeth of poor people and children could be evolved.