DENTAL CLINICS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16372, 21 June 1927, Page 8

DENTAL CLINICS

WORK IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS (Per Press Association.) HAMILTON, last night. The progress of work in the dental clinics was referred to in a pro-ses-sional speech by the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Health, in Hamilton 1 to-night. In the State primary schools there were, over 200,000 pupils, stated Mr. Young, arid the 'number of State, dental'iiurses and operators in the field working on children V teeth was 7(5. Approximately 3(5,000 school children were under treatment. The Department had of> trainees undergoing a two years' course of instruction at Wellington. It was estimated that 800 dental nurses at least were required to cope with the needs of the. children of'the State schools. In addition, nurses were being instructed how to teach children to care for their teeth by proper methods. "As a matter of general principle," stated Air. Young, "I am.of the opinion that good health in the individual should lie the basic foundation on which to build democracy, r< cognising that while the I Government has its responsibility in that respect it can only fulfil its responsibility in proportion to its resources." Younger school children should (receive first consideration. Tint Minister added that 16 new dental tturses had recently qualified. 11l the first complete month the nurses had performed '279.7 fillings; 1216 extractions, arid 1068 minor operations. The class of treatment was satisfactory and the work excellent.