THE AIMS OF DENTAL CLINICS.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 14, 30 August 1928, Page 8

THE AIMS OF DENTAL CLINICS.

_In our last article we dealt with the policy of the Government with regard to Dental Clinics. In this we would like to point out the reasons for which the clinics were instituted.

With the thought ever in mind that a clean mouth is essential for the wellbeing of a child the first aim in treatment received at the clinics is the pievention of disease. Every available opportunity is taken of instructing children, and parents on this point. The help of the parents is earnestly enlisted —without it a great proportion of the work is wasted.

Many people have the mistaken idea that it is not necessary to take care of the milk teeth but it was for the care of these teeth and the first permanent molars that clinics first came into being. We all know that a child with painful teeth cannot possibly chew properly, with the result that the food is swallowed almost whole. It is most important therefore that a child's teeth should be londered fit to carry out this function without any discomfort. An attempt is made to save any teeth that it is possible to save. Those teeth however, which aie hopelessly decayed are extracted. Children with teeth in this condition, usually show the effect in an ill-nourished appearance. All decaying matter gives off poisonous gases and decayed teeth are no exception to the rule. The poisons given off in the mouth are absorbed into the blood and through it the whole system is fed. What effect can this have but that of undermining the health!

The life of normal healthy milk molars and '' eye 7 teeth is from 10 to 11 years. Consider the harm we do our children by neglecting their teeth to such an extent the extraction is necessary at the age of say 5 years. Food cannot be chewed with the result that the jaws ure under-developed through lack of exercise. The permanent teeth erupt at all angles because there is insufficient room for them to do otherwise. The angles and corners so formed are ideal pockets for food debris and so we have the same old tiling—decay in the permanent teeth.

The result of the work undertaken by the clinics is that the children's mouths are rendered functional and clean. This must have a beneficial effect on their health. At present a tremendous amount of repair work is being; done to the toe vh but it is hoped that gradually the lessonsin prevention will have their effect and that less actual operative work will be necessary. In our next article an attempt will be made yet again to place before you the methods to adopt for the prevention of dental, disease.