The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1909. CHILDREN'S TEETH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 6

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1909. CHILDREN'S TEETH.

In his presidential address at the Dental Conference on Monday, Me. A. Hoby spoke very interestingly on a subject that has lately dropped rather out of -sight—namely, the necessity for securing that the tcoth of the children shall be properly cared for. In almost every progressive country, it appears, the importance of dental hygiene in the schools is fully recognised, and practical schemes are working successfully in many places. In one of the cities of Southern Russia there has for years been a Bystem of inspection of the teeth of school children; in Germany, as might be expected, the children's teeth arc periodically examined and treated in some of the cities; in Great Britain there is in operation an Act under which medical and dental treatment is afforded to the pupils at public schools. When the subject was first discussed at a Dental Conference in New Zealand, if we remember aright, the proposals put forward contemplated nothing more than a system of inspection and notification, Qualified dontista 'wore to examine the children, and par*

cnts were to bo notified respecting the attention which was required in oach case. It was not suggested, we think* that the cost of treatment was to be borne by anybody but the parents concorned. There was nothing unreasonable in the hopo that: parents who neglected their duty of protecting the mouths of their children would perform their duty on its being clearly brought before them in a systematic, way. But it seems that not much reliance can be placed upon the co-operation of paronts in a simple scheme of this kind. In one town which Mr, Hoby mentions, the method of inspection and notification had the poorest results. Of 12,000 cavities notified, only 18 were attended to by the parents. This and liko experiences led Mb. Hoby to affirm that "in all the places so far the voluntary system has broken down; legal power must bo given to .the authorities not only to inspect, but to have the work [of treatment] done." This is rather discouraging, but we do not think, nor does Mr. Hoby appear to bo quite' convinced, that the conclusion to be drawn from the failure of "voluntary" schemes in the past is that there is nothing for it but State dentistry. ■Mr. Hoby thinks that a vigorous educative propaganda will prepare the public to accept legislation making attention to the teeth cdmpulsory. The trouble will begin when the question of finance is reached. There are those who will say at once that the State should inspect and repair the teeth of every child at the public schools. To. many people it may appear that the logical corollary of, "free" education is "free" medical attention to children—that'there is no real difference' between State' care;'-6f I : : ';the child's mind and State.; .care of, the child's body. Nor is there.: ButHt is as important that children -should''-'be clad and fed as that they ; should be educated and treated for carious teeth. If it' follows from the- existence of. a free education system that the State should supply dental' treatment-to school children free of cost to the individual parent,' , it follows ■ equally, that the.. State should supply free meals and free clothes to school children' free of cost to the individual parent. The question is not a mere question of logic; it isa question of r ."How far?" And it seems to us that;it is going too far to mako the care of school children's teoth a charge upon the general taxpayer. The State has done quite enough harm in this and in other countries; already by relieving parents of'their responsibilities at '.'top cost of other parents who do not neglect their duties.- '■ Mr. : Hoby suggests a ■special .tax. of,' say,' 'ss. for' each child •attending'school.. That would,'be much better than any scheme that would bury the j cost of a'system of' State dental treatment. in ' the. general ■ finances of ;the country. ..Parents ;:,wpul.d,'„bo likely, 'under- such a system, to take care that they got their money's worth.- • •■■''•- .. ;'But:'w6'aro' ; ndt : satisfied..that ; 'tlij time has.come : lor; even-'this, scheme. :It will be. quite time enbugfito set about chargingl the State'.with the heavy cost of a general system of dental treatment, when, the. children and. the public, having been ;thoroughly:taught;the.:importance'of oral hygiene/the ; evil is still great enough to warrant tho expenditure of State money in coping, with it. Dental >hygierie;;: should; >be ,t;aiighfc../in the ,schools_,-and treate'daß-a sutie'et of.'first-, class; importance J coupled' system of inspection should easily'; be ; ar-: ranged without.'cost to anybody:'. We .'.are ,tho' dental .profession wili cooperate in; any reasonable schemo of this 'kind.; :: ."': : >/V ■~.,■■■■■ "::■:-. ;" ■■■.■■:'-'■: