DENTAL TREATMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1826, 12 August 1913, Page 3

DENTAL TREATMENT.

$ A SPECIALIST SPEAKS.

It is a signficant fact, and one which goas to show tli6 appalling condition of the teeth of tho New Zealand children that of tho 2GO patients w'lio.have been examined since the dental department was opened at Christoliurch Hospital, five months ago, only one child has been found to have a perfectly sound set of teeth, says tho dental surgeon in charge of the .C'hristchurchflHospital. The teet'h most affected are the' first permanent molars, which coine through behind the "first" t-eet'li at about the age of six. These teeth are frequently neglected, with the result that decay sets in and rapidly affects the tooth substance, so that in a short time the teeth can bo saved only with difficulty, or in many cast's cannot be saved at all., and have to be cxtractcd.

The temporary, or "first," tooth, too, are very often allowed to "go," with dire results as regards irregularity and crowding of tile permanent teeth. Normally, tho "first" teeth are gradually lost between the ages'of six and eleven, and they should be carefully looked after until it is time for them to be replaced by permanent teeth. Decayed "first" teeth affect their permanent successors, and may cause unsightly irregularities, together with inability to properly masticate food. Badly decayed teeth have an injurious effect on tho general health of a person, first because of the inability.to masticate properly, and, second, because of the slow poisoning that is going on,' due to the swallowing of products of decomposition. It can ba readly understood that as the mouth is at the very beginning of the digestive tract, decomposition going on in the mouth must have a bad effect on the whole system. The germs of many diseases arc normally present in tho mouth, and decayed teeth form on ideal place for these to grow and multiply. All that is then required for the germs to. gain the upper hand is that the person should become "run down" or "gatch a chill," and then everything is favourable for the commencement of a diseoss. Cases of con-, sumption may aria?, in this way. Children of all ages, and with varying degrees of dental dfeease, present themselves at the hospital for dental treatment. Treatment is carried out with a view to giving the patient as large and as efficient a, masticating surface as possible, and generally putting tho mouth in a healthy condition. Diseased teeth oro restored by means of fillings, while hopelessly decayed and broken-down teeth are removed. At tho commencement of tho treatment children are instructed in tlio use of the toothbrush, and are shown tho necessity of cn.ring for the teeth and keeping them clean. The majority follow out thtfir instructions,' and when their treatment is completed, show a marked improvement as regards both health and appearance. Since the dental department was opened some five months ago, over 200 have presented themselves for treatment, 'and of these, roughly, 70 rc:ir cent, are children. The total number of attendances up to the present time is 1255. Two hundred children receiving dental retention in five months may, Fays the superintendent, a fairly liumlxr, and yet it is only a fraction of thosa who require attention, but who, through neglect or otherwise, are allowed to remain with unhealthy septic, mouths.