SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3554, 6 December 1934, Page 5

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC

HOW CHILDREN ARE BENEFITED. \ IS THE SERVICE APPRECIATED? (By R. 8.) Reference at this week’s meeting of the Te Awamutu District High School Committee to the fact that over fifty .children attending the school have not had. their fees paid this year for treatment at the district dental clinic, brings up the matter of whether or no the service is appreciated. In this connection it may be remarked at the outset that the clinic serves not only the children ' of both Te Awamutu schools, but of almost all the other schools within aj radius of a dozen or so miles of Te Awamutu and the number is being steadily added to. But there is evidence that the parents of Te Awamutu' children are not so imbued with the A'alue of this treatment of their youngsters as are the parents of country children. This is borne out by the fact that very many of the country children are brought to the clinic by one or other parent, whereas the Te Awamutu youngster’s parent rarely puts "in an appearance—- . whether from the assumption that he or she is not welcome, or from indifference; at least one parent will say it is just natural shyness. But there is no occasion for that. The nurse in charge is Miss M. Hansard, and with her as assistant is Miss A. Tippett, and they are ever ready to welcome parents genuinely seeking information as to the work done. They recognise that the dental clinic is much misun- ... derstood, and would like to know that people Jhave a/better understanding of the scheme. People visiting the clinic just for idle curiosity will, of course, not be welcomed, for it must be remembered that both nurses have a great deal of work to do and are really conscientious. The time is probably not far distant now when a really up-to-date, well appointed . and commodious dental clinic building will be provided, but the present room (above the Town Hall) is by no means the “chamber of horrors” imagined by some people. So far as practicable, it has been made -bright and attractive, even though it is far too small for requirements. To remove misapprehensions, it may be pointed out that as soon as children are put on the school roll in primer 1 they' are examined by the dental nurse, and then at intervals V until they reach standard 4, so that every child in the lower standards will be in possession of sound teeth, many of them sprinkled with fillings, perhaps, but certainly not decayed. Very few children, on joining the roll of the clinic at the start of their school days, have a sound set of first teeth. Nearly all those inspected for the first time have cavities that require filling. Were it not for the • clinic most of these first teeth would never be filled, but the view of dental experts is that a sound set of teeth is necessary at all times, so that even the cavities of the first teeth need filling. Abscessed first teeth may, and probably will, cause damage to the enamel surface of the second teeth forming beneath them. By the time the t children reacli standard 4 they will have lost their first teeth and got all their permanent teeth. For months now the various school districts have been raising their quota towards meeting the cost of the new dental clinic building, and we learn that the funds are coming in fairly well, though it is noteworthy that while some school districts have actually reached their, quota in a very short while others are still labouring, even though they are confident the required amount will be forthcoming ' by, the appointed date. It is, however, a regrettable fact that in one or two districts no effort at all has been made. In those cases it should be borne in mind that it is hardly likely that no discrimination will be made when the time comes for limiting the number of children that can receive treatment There Avas a suggestion, Avhen the first dental clinic Avas established, that the local dentists would not approve the, innovation; but right from the outset they have displayed a keen and friendly interest in the enterprise, and we believe there are quite a number of instances of really practical help being afforded. That is, of course, only what has been done in other centres, but it is deserving of mention, c if only to correct certain misguided individuals, who have not troubled to. inform themselves before voicing comment. As Avas mentioned earlier, it is a pity that only a,feAV parents of children attending .the *Te Awamutu schools (Convent included) visit the clinic, because many of them never get a first hand knowledge and appreciation of the good Avork being done there. In some of the school districts the committees provide the quota towards the cost of the clinic — for surely everybody luioavs that it is not an entirely free service! —and this course was folloAved as regards the Te

Awamutu District High School, until,

the committee’s resources were strained so much that it was necessary to ask the parents to personally shoulder some of the burden. Parents are asked to contribute only a small sum annually, for each child on the clinic roll, the committee undertaking to provide the levy in cases where special circumstances exist. But when it is remembered that over fifty children at the local schools have been receiving dental clinic treatment while their levy remains unpaid it must be realised that their parents have been neglectful, for it is assuredly a fact that there are not fifty parents in Te Awamutu in such straitened circumstances as to be unable to pay the small levy for the benefit of their children’s health.