HUTT DENTAL CLINIC

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 3, 6 May 1927, Page 6

HUTT DENTAL CLINIC

The Clinic exists solely for children of the Primary Schools. A child entering school for it's first time is charted by the Dental Nurse and a statement given to the parent or guardian as to the state of the child's teeth. Before the child receives any attention, consent must be obtained from the parent or guardian. But many do not return the consent forms; some, because they have an idea that it is a sort of charitable aid institution, and to be used only by certain people; others again have the opinion, quite a wrong one, that the nurses provided are not qualified. These nurses are in every way qualified to deal with the children, and do an immense amount of good. The child, having once received treatment, is then followed through its school career, and the parent is assured that any minor ailment is, at any rate, not due to bad teeth. And that means one less worry. The work of the Committee has been most arduous, due very largely to the apathy of the parents. Many are only dimly aware that the Clinic exists at all. This has been largely overcome by the present committee, who have made it a point of giving greater publicity to the work done during the past year. This committee is composed of delegates from the various schools committees (Hutt Central, Eastern Hutt, Taita, and Epuni) which schools are responsible for any deficit. That the school committees have a big work to finance themselves is well known, and it is an obligation on the parents and guardians to see that their committee is not further burdened. We feel that it has only to be more widely known amongst householders to ensure that the Dental Clinic will not have to call on any school for assistance. And we publish this with the hope that it will assist in that direction.