DECAYED TEETH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 13

DECAYED TEETH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

A MEDICAL (SCHOOL INSPECTOR'S PLEA. In compliance with a request from the Otago branch of the New Zealand Dental Association, Dr Margaret M'Cahon, medical inspector of schools for Otago and Southland, has communicated to the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the result of her observations of the state of the teeth of the children in the schools inspected by her. Dr M'Cahon writes: As Medical ' Inspector of Schools for Otago and Southland, I probably have inspected the mouths of more children than any other person in Dunedin, and the result has been a revelation to me. Taking tho children between the ages of 8 to 11 years only of 14 schools in Dun edin and suburbs, which I examined in the months of May id June, 76 per cent, of the children had decayed teeth, which had had no dental treatment. At four of the schools there were 88 per cent., 90 per cent., 90 per cent., and 92 per cent, of the examined children with deca-ved, untreated teeth, and the lowest percentage was 50 per cent, at three of the residential suburban schools. This year on account of my having had a school nurse I have been able to follow up tho result of my notifications to the parents. She has reported to me that well over 90 per cent, of the parents she visited in Dunedin are only too anxious to have thoir children's teeth attended to, and many told her they had taken their children to the Dental School, but the Dental School was unable to cope with the numbers of children who had attended seeking treatment. Being, unfortunately, unable to afford privato_ dental treatment, therefore, for their children their teeth would have to be neglected. These are facts which cannot be refuted, and, knowing so well the results of bad teeth on the physical and mental wellbeing of the child. I feel I must write and plead that something bo done to help this crusade of the Dental Association to save the children's teeth. I take the liberty of enclosing- a medical inspector's schedule which I send to all the parents of children with decayed teeth, and I can honestly sav that from my conversations with mothers who have attended my mothers' schools meetings, which I have held at the various schools I have visited, it is not tho fault of neglect and disinterest of the parents, but inability to pay dental fees, which is the cause of no treatment. Might I suggest that a email fee might bo charged to those parents able to pay it and to those who cannot Ist the treatment be free ? I trust that some satisfactory arrangement can be arrived at, as a healthy mouth so very, very often means a healthy body, and therefore a healthy mind.