UNSOUND TEETH IN CHILDREN

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 18

UNSOUND TEETH IN CHILDREN

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS. - The following letter, which speaks for iteelf, has been forwarded by Mr Frank B. [ Blakeley, dentist, to Mr J. W. Smith, head master of the High Street School: — Dear Sir, — I have to report that I have examined the teeth of about 300 children of Standards 1 to 7 of High Street School. Of all the scholars examined only about 35 have sound sets of teeth — the general condition of the teeth being very bad. Of 150 examined in Standards 1 to 3, 21 sets were perfectly sound. In Standards 4 to 7 of those examined 12 sets only were sound. In Standards 1 to 3, where the children have only a few of their permanent teeth, in nearly every case I found the first permanent (or six-year-old) molars decayed ; a great many beyond hope of saving, and in the interest of the children so effected should bi attended to at once. In Standards 4 to 7, the children of which have most of their permanent teeth, the general condition of the teeth is very bad; and, as in Standards 1 to 3, the first permanent molars are in most cases unsound. The upper front teeth of the children in Standards 4 to 7 in many cases are in a. very bad condition. Many teeth might hava been preserved by the frequent use of a tooth brush; indeed, several children informed me that they had never used a brush. Again, accumulation of green tartar on the front of ths teeth spoilt the appearance of several otherwise very fair sets. The presence of stumps of temporary teeth in the mouth after the permanent teeth have I appeared in many cases is causing irregularity i in the permanent set; besides irritation arising therefrom, and the consequent gathering in the mouth of foreign substances which is [ a fruitful cause of decay. If teeth were examined once or twice a year by a qualified dentist there would not be a quarter of the toothache troubles of children, and teeth woixld. be saved, which.

! otherwise have to be extracted. Parents frequently forget that their children have teeth till the little ones cry with the pain of toothache, and the expense they are then put to would have been unnecessary had the teeth been examined at regular intervals. This examination is free of charge by most dentists. Parents might save the children a great amount of trouble and themselves much expense by paying constant attention to the regu-ar use of the tooth brush by their children, as this is quite as essential to general health as the cleansing of the rest of the body. , In closing this report I would like to express my sui prise and regret at finding so many unsound teeth in the mouths of otherwise healthy-looking children, and at the same time thank you for the kindness and consideration you have shown to ma in connection with the examination of the children's teeth. I consider that it is decidedly to the advantage of parents and scholars that a periodical examination should be made as much present and future suffering would be saved, and I will feel only too pleased if I have by this examination drawn the parents' attention to the great importance of caring for the welfare of their children's teeth, as "the * children would then have better health and be consequently brighter in their school studies. — Tours sincerely, Fbank H. Blakeley, dentist, by exam.