CHILDREN'S TEETH.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12898, 8 February 1906, Page 6

CHILDREN'S TEETH.

•Some of the'branches of the Xew Zealand Dental Association, a contemporary savs. are talcing steps to procure the examination of the teeth of State school scholars, with a view to the systematic prevention decay. While the method to be uHimatt-ly adopted is not yet outlined, there can be no doubt as to tht desirability of dental superintendence over the rising generation, and very few will be found to object to soma form of compulsion. As in education itself, coiri-pidsi.QTT .vdoes' iiQt j .jsre<;t. who rtdnnhtinly \a<fcept s the -

a:d of civilisation, and it is not less neces-! sary for a community to have sound teeth than for it to have generally passed the yixth Standard. From causes which are n~t yet cleurly defined, the Uetli of civilised nsaa have greatly deteriorated, not merely as compared to those of uncivilised peoples, but as compared with those of our own "ice in very recent times. It i* recognised that physical health is impassible unless io'.vd is. properly masticated, and however we'.l artificial teeth may compensate for the !• ss of the natural, the care ard preservation of the natural teeth is the only intelligent course. We have unanimously agreed that the enforcement of sanitary law is a pubb'c function, but we have so far failed to take any public measures in the dental direction. To do so is beset, with sr> many difficulties that it canr.oi be regarded as possible in gene nil and actual practice, however theoretically desirable- it

may he. But- what we can do is to make use of the national educational system by instituting periodic examinations of the teeth of the scholars, by making some sort of provision for requisite professional treatmeat. and by inculcating and enforcing the deinliness which is the principal preventive of decay. _ And we may be reasonably assured tliat if children's teeth are systematically cared for the lesson will generate into a habit that will be effective in after years. In the United Kingdom, in Europe, and iff America this method is already being experimentally initiated, and the colony will be greatly indebted to the Dental Association if it can institute here similar action by practically demonstrating what can be done. Parents ought *o be able to dispense in this with any iStnte interference or assistance, but if all patents did what they ought to do the world would •be a very different world to what- it is. We have had to make education compulsory. We have had to make and -enforce laws, by-laws and regulations upon all manner of things that are admittedly selfproven. And since we are beginning to leaiise that sound teeth keep people outof hospital,. enable them to do their part in social and industrial life, are essential to national defence as well as to individual health, it is well that we should begin to consider the best way to ensure them.