TEETH OF CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 11

TEETH OF CHILDREN.

DENTAL CLINICS PRAISED. GOOD : WORK ACCOMPLISHED." ADVICE GIVEN . TO PARENTS.[by telegraph.—own correspondent. ] CHRLSTCHUKCH. Wednesday. "As a practical dentist' I have been struck with the extremely "high'-standard of work done in the dental clinics at the schools. The nurses at the clinics have been trained in their; particular division of dentistry in a manner that is not excelled for thoroughness 'in any part of the world, and their operations are contributing substantially to the health and well being of the children." This statement was made by the Hon. J. .A. Young, Minister of Public Health, to-day. " During my ' visit ! to Christchurch,"' he continued, " I have inspected little children at the schools whose appearance suggested an anaemic condition. Either they are being supplied with. the wrong sorts of food bv their parents or the little doses of poison caused liy fermented decay and corruption from their defective teeth are affecting them. There is abundant work ahead for >the' department. Asked- if any . statistics were available showing a raising in the standard of the health of school children since the'dental clinics, were established the Minister replied that the system, had not been established long enough,for,that, but the,beneficial, results were obvious, being apparent in the, appearance of the, children. He had just conferred with Dr. R. ;B. Phillips, medical officer in charge of,the.Canterbury Education District, and the three nurses who inspected school "children. These' nurses attended all the schools, looking for defects'of teeth, eyesight, hearing. and ; general development.- They reported the result to the medical officer

who then notified the parents, giving advice ...when ■ treatment Vvas required,- and often a personal, inspection of the child. When it was considered .desirable the visited the parents,, impressing on them the importance of hygiene. . Dr. Phillips had just informed him that fully 50 per cent, of the children were given correct treatment immediately their dis-abilities-were drawn to' the attention of parents.' ! •

Th policy carried out must have a tre mendous influence in enabling children to get the best out of life through the possession of health and strength, and the consequent gain in capacity to resist disease.