SCHOOL CHILDREN’S TEETH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 27 March 1919, Page 4

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S TEETH

,*, TREATMENtIjRGENTLY NEEDS3> [ ' ' ■- Jl[ ' j■ | Regarding the examination • r«Sfi ; treatment of school children’s, teeth* , the Minister of Public Health (Hon. .04 . W. Russell) stated on Saturday that, in view of dental officers -being released ’ . from military duties, he' wds’ [ that progress, may be made by hospital [ boards in this matter. • The, Minister ; made it clear that his idea was n r >jt . confine the treatment to children of-the , State schools. Denominational ai)*t other private schools' vould rev* >t£ ennal attention, and Mr Russell empha-? sised that it was to be the 1 oper atten* tion—examination without .trea , was worthless As an illustration , how urgent was the need for somethin^,,' , being done, the Minister mention®^ , when, some few years ago, a Welling* ton school of 700 children was examih- ’■ ed; only three were found with ;,erfe&. . teeth. Even before the -war, there yas no surplus* of dentists in, the .D« t ;t.'* ion, so, with oyer 200,000. .hOJLvn , tf> he kept under observation, the will need to he considei'ably. increased.Assistance is being rendered-in thirst . rectimv by the ten dental oi-ijweis which have recently been in connection with the School of Dentiftiy *. of the University of Otago. these, ten dental officers per* : year VfU|v after four years, graduate from school and enter upon the work in connection with school • children’s teeth,- i How far the scheme, when perfected, will be administered by the Public Health Department or the Educatiph , Department, is a matter that has etttl . to be considered. hrs j {' . ■ : ■ - :