SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXII, Issue 79, 3 October 1941, Page 5

SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE

HISTORY OF THE ORGANISATION

CARE OF CHILDREN'S TEETH

In an article on the School Dental Service, written by Nurse Cuddon, of the Leeston and Southbridge clinics, a short review is given of the history of the service and its aims, while there is also given some useful hints to parents. The article follows: •

In 1919 the government of the day decided to institute a school dental service. Six dental officers were appointed and were attached to the Education Department, their stations being at Warkworth, Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Colonel T. A. Hunter, C.8.E., who was appointed chief dental officer in 1920, proposed that in developing the School Dental Service the main personnel should consist of specially selected young women trained as dental nurses. After much controversy over this proposal which was considered a revolutionary one by many members of the the dental profession, the New Zealand Dental Association finally gave their formal approval of the proposal, and in 1921 the first group of young women were selected to undergo their training as dental nurses. From 1921—1930 groups of 15—40 nurses were appointed annually, and the School Dental Service and the School Medical Service were transferred from the Education Department to the reconstituted Department of Health. Premises to be' used as a training school were secured in the Army Base Records building during the Great War; and this clinic was j equipped for the most part with equipment taken over from the Army Dental Corps. ; Colonel Hunter became director of dental hygiene, and Mr Richmond Dunn was appointed to take charge of the training of dental nurses and he continued in this capacity until 1924. By 1930 the School Dental Service had developed to the extent that half the pupils of the primary schools of the Dominion were re-

ceiving treatment. At this stage, however, the world-wide financial depression made it necessary to curtail the policy of expansion, so that until 1935 the position that had been reached was carefully maintained.

For administrative reasons the Dominion was organised into four districts (now there are five) each district under a dental superintendent; and at the end of 1935 an expansion programme was decided upon with the object of completing the service and making it available to all primary school children in the Dominion. These plans of expansion included the erection of a modern dental clinic and training school in Wellington, which would serve as a treatment centre for the 15,000 children of Wellington and at the same time supply the whole Dominion with dental nurses. Today there are approximately 300 dental nurses, 140 student dental nurses undergoing training, and 360 dental clinics in the Dominion.

To quote the words of Mr J. W. Saunders, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene—"l would like to say that the successful development of the School Dental Service has been assisted in no small degree by the willing and ready cooperation of local dental clinic committees, teachers, staffs of IL'ducation boards and others. Ever since the inception of the School Dental Service, dental clinic committees have been responsible for the local administration of treatment centres and of recent years their responsibilities in this direction which are undertaken voluntarily have increased considerably. The influence exerted by these committees locally has done much to facilitate the progress of the service." The Aims of the School Dental Service: To educate the parents and children in matters of general and dental health. To lower the incidence of dental decay. This can only be achieved when parents realise that they are the health makers. Certain simple instructions and rules have been made by the Health Department and until these are carried out intelligently and constantly, marked improvement in the general and dental health of. this nation cannot be expected. Anything worth achieving requires effort. We all hear the phrase, "Prevention is better than cure," but, do we really try to prevent dental decay? Do we really feel that a clean mouth is as important as a clean face? Do we in fact consider our teeth are as much part of our bodies as are our fingers and toes? To provide every primary school child with regular dental treatment. In fact we want to make every i (member of the community so "tooth ! conscious" that in time every few

fillings will be required when the children have their mouths examined. This may sound a fantastic hope, but really if all parents took a practical interest in their own health as well' as in that of their children there is no reason to doubt that a large percentage of dental decay in New Zealand could be prevented. (There are such things as accidents and constitutional disorders which would account for some unsound teeth). ; Htow Giood Results can be Obtained: Pay attention to the health of the mother during the pre natal period. Visit the dentist regularly, .at least every six months. Small defects can be repaired, with very little loss of tooth substance, with little pain, in a short time. Avoid too many refined carbohydrate or starchy foods especially between meals. Eat good food (fruit, vegetables, milk, meat, eggs, fish, cheese.) Use the tooth brush regularly— after breakfast and before bedtime. In fact a child needs:— Plenty of rest and exercise. j A toothbrush. i A well-planned diet-—and persistent parents. The work of the School Dental i Service has made steady progress j during the last twenty years. Let us be able to say in five years time that this progress has become rapid owing to the enthusiasm of

every parent in this country. If you really love your children you will do everything in your ppwer to prevent dental disease. Health rules are taught at school. Parents must see that these precepts are put into operation. In fact it is the duty of every / one of us to start children on the road to health. Sound teeth help to preserve good health. Only with good health can a jchild be expected to succeed in the school, on the games field, and above all in the great game of life.