SURVEY TO BE MADE OF CHILDREN'S TEETH

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1947, Page 5

SURVEY TO BE MADE OF CHILDREN'S TEETH

WELLINGTON, August 1. A survey of the dentai condition of children between the ages of 13 ajpl 16, conducted chiefly through schools, is being instituted by tlie dentai committee of the Aledieal Research Coun cil. Children in this age group who nave lived from birth in the same locality, estimated to be about onethird of the total, will be examined by research officers. . Each child wj.ll Dc K-rayed to find even ineipient cases of lental caries. Children who have been lifelong residents in the same Loc.alitV' will be seleeted so as to assess the importance of regional variations in the inineral content of the soil and drinking water. In the adolescent age group, susceptibility to dentai earies is most pronounced. The calcium. requirements of the average person were greater between the ages of 13 and 16 than at any othei time in life, said Dr. R. E. A. He\var who is organising the dentai field re search. Parents should realise the nee«l for reinforcing diet with an abundam-e of calcium-containing foods, especially milk and milk products. Alilk wa.--laetually more important to the adoles jent - than to the school child who ro'eived his daily bottle, The survey will determine the differ ences in degree or prevalence of dentai caries and will cover all factor* involved — hygiene, nutrition and even psychology. The comparative variations in those children resident in iifferent districts in New Zealand will indicate what minerals are needqd to prevent or lower dentai decay, and will increase suseeptibility. While the field officers nnder Alr, Hewat will do the practieal investigation on New Zealand teeth, the scientifie and theoretieal side of the work will also be attended to. Experimental research is being carried out at the Otago University Dentai School under the direetion of the Dean, Dr. J. P. Walsh. Facilities are being steadily improved and the lines of inquiry suggested by the survey will be scientifically investigated in the .laboratories there.