1T.—31,

SECTION 2. —DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION. This matter continues to receive the close attention of all officers and nurses of this Division. Modern research has amply proved that dental disease is, to a great extent, preventable, and every opportunity is taken of instructing both children and parents in the fundamental principles of dental hygiene. The interest shown by teachers in supervising the children's lunches is a pleasing feature of this aspect of the work. It is very gratifying to find that so many parents take a keen and practical interest in the teachings of the Department, with the result that the dental standard of their children steadily improves. This is evidenced by a decrease in the amount of recurrent treatment required during successive years. Unfortunately, there are still some parents who fail to realize their responsibility in this matter. They allow their children to attend the clinics for treatment, but they fail to take any active steps on the lines indicated by the Department to preserve the teeth and prevent dental disease. In consequence, no diminution is apparent in the amount of treatment required at successive periodical inspections. A continuance of treatment in such cases is not warranted. During the year much has been done to bring the principles of dental hygiene to the notice of children and parents. Apart from chair-side instruction and the distribution of literature, many talks have been given by dental nurses to classes in the schools, and many addresses have been given to meetings of mothers of patients and to various women's organizations. During the year a series of five lectures was given over the air by Mr. Bibby, Mr. Brice, and myself at the invitation of the Radio Broadcasting Co. of New Zealand. As in previous years, the trained nurses' post-graduate course arranged by the Department included a series of lectures on dental hygiene by officers of this Division. Engaging as they do in various forms of public-health work, these nurses come into close touch with both parents and children, and, though primarily concerned with general health problems, their work must ultimately result in a higher standard of dental health as well. SECTION 3,—GENERAL. Policy.—ln connection with the opening of new clinics, the policy of definitely arranging beforehand the schools that will form the dental group has been continued with marked success. Experience has shown that there is a period, usually in the second year after the opening of a clinic, when the officer in charge is temporarily short of work. If the natural inclination to undertake fresh commitments at this stage were followed there would be a serious overloading of the group at a later stage, with the inevitable result that the regular treatment of individual children would suffer. The practice has been adopted, therefore, of temporarily transferring dental nurses at this stage to centres where assistance is required. The services of the limited staff available are thus used to the best advantage. In these cases the nurses return to their own clinics and resume regular and systematic treatment at the normal time. Hawke's Bay Earthquake.—The school dental clinics at Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, Gisborne, and Waipawa suffered damage to a varying extent as a result of the disastrous earthquake 011 the 3rd February, 1931. The most serious damage occurred at Hastings, where the clinic was housed in a brick building. The structure was wrecked, and I regret to say that the dental nurses who were stationed there were both injured. The work of the Service has of necessity been discontinued in the meantime at both Napier and Hastings, but it will be resumed as soon as suitable accommodation can be arranged. At the other centres the work suffered only temporary interruption. lam pleased to be able to report that the conduct of all the dental nurses in the affected centres won high commendation, and was in keeping with the best traditions of this Department. I would take this opportunity of acknowledging the valuable co-operation of Dental Clinic Committees throughout the Dominion in carrying on the work of the Service in the various districts. Members of the teaching profession have shown their wonted enthusiasm for the work of the clinics, and their assistance in many different directions is gratefully acknowledged. Education Boards and their staffs have again done much to facilitate the work of the School Dental Service. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the splendid service rendered during the past year by all officers of this Division. The officers of my executive and training staffs have carried out their duties with ability and enthusiasm, a,nd this also applies to the dental officers and dental nurses in the field. J. LI. Saunders, Director, Division of Dental Hygiene.

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