DENTAL DECAY

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 13

DENTAL DECAY

PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS NEW CLINIC OPENED AT MORNIHGTON Justification for school dental clinics generally, and in particular for the new Mornington Schqpl clinic, which was officially opened yesterday afternoon, was shown by illuminating figures, it being stated that of 40 children so far examined there were 320 decayed teeth —an average of eight decayed teeth m each child. There was a large gathering of parents at the ceremony, and also members of the School Committee, which has been principally responsible for the establishment of a commodious and up-to-date clinic. The building was officially opened by Mr P. Neilson, M.P., who commended such valuable school services, and. referred to the work that the Government was doing in extending this facility throughout the Dominion.

The assemblage was briefly welcomed to the function by Mr L. A. M'Kenzie (head master of the school). Mr 1. Tombs (chairman of the School Committee and the Dental Clinic Committee) apologised for the absence at the function ot the mayor (Mr A. H. Alien) and Mr J. Wallace (chairman of the Education Boai'd). He spoke of the efforts made by the School Committee that was in office last year to establish the clinic, and of the assistance it received in every way from the Education Board, the Health Department, the Government, the Parents’ Association, and Mr J. S. Nicholson (district superintendent of clinics_ in Otago). This was a B typo clinic, said the speaker—one where there was a nurse permanently on duty—and the nurse in this case was Miss Jenkins. Being a new building, the Government had contributed two-thirds of the cost, and the School Committee had borne the remaining portion of the expense in erecting it. Outlining the pupils eligible lor treatment, Mir Tombs said the committee would have liked to extend the service to include the children in the standards, hut was forbidden to do so by Government regulations. The maximum charge would bo 5s per child per annum, and in the case of two or more pupils in the one family the charge would, he 4s per annum. .It was the intention of the Clinic Committee gradually to reduce the charges, said the’ Speaker, who added that this year the fees would not pay for the running expenses. An assurance was given by Mr Neilson that the Government, and especially the Minister of Education (Mr Fraser; was fully alive to the requirements, both educational and physical, of the children of the Dominion, ihe first requirement before education was the health of the child, which, if ill or ill-nourished, could not assimilate knowledge. Since its advent the Government had spent £1,380,066 on education facilities in the Dominion, and of that total £826,960 had been spent on primary schools. Mr Neilson said that when the Estimates were tabled in Parliament there was no objection to the vote from the Opposition benches. Statistics dealing with the increased dimensions of classrooms, the growth ot dimes, the increase in the trainees to staff them, and to the comprehensive milk service in schools were enumerated by Mr Neilson. There was no doubt, he said, that poor teeth were a result of milk deficiency, and ho referred to a statement by Sir John Orr to the Milk Marketing Board in London to the effect that as the supply of milk to the child increased, the physical and mental growth became more apparent.

A tribute to the work t of the Minister of Education was paid by Mr W. R Bruch (representing the Education Board), who said that Mr Fraser was one of the ablest Ministers this country had possessed. The clinic would be a valuable moans of preserving the health of the children of the Mormngton district.

Air Nicolson referred to the incidence of dental decay among the pupils of the school, and said that to poor teeth many or the diseases of the piesent day could be attributed. He added that over 90 per cent, ol the children of the Dominion had decayed teeth, and the aim of the clinics was to carry out an active policy ot prevention. Tire clinic was then officially opened by Mr Neilson, the key being presented to him by Mr Tombs.