CHILDREN'S TEETH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 132, 28 February 1920, Page 5

CHILDREN'S TEETH

A _ HINT TO PARENTS. Some interesting comments regardin" tho care of the te;th of children, afflj life .work carried out at- tho Dental Department of the Wellinston Hospital, are combined in a letter which Ims been addressed to the chairman of the. Hosnltal Board (Mr. F. Cattle) bv Mr. P. W. Bond, whn recently relinquished control of the department In handing over control, Mr. Bond Mated that he desired to thank the board and the staff generally for the consideration shown him during his two years of service. Mr. Bond's letter continues:— "I wish to take this opportunity to point out to your board tho. importance of the work that is being carried on by this department; but much regret how few parents are alive to the care of their children's teeth. Looking back on theso two years. I ant astoun\d at the amount of oral sepsis that has come under my notice. In quite 00 per cent, pus has been fully present in the mouths of theso very young people; because it is hidden away in the mouth no' notice is taken a#d the child continues daily to swallow this poison. If these abscess".? were to appear on the cheeks or hands the parents would be greatly- alarmed, ,but how much more ; serious is the presence of all this oral sepsis. Your department is well equipped; the various operations are all carried on under'the most modern aseptic conditions, and tho public of Wellington are fortunate, indeed in having this department at their disposal. I much regret that too much of my time has been taken up in denture work fori adult patients, and the care of tho children' lias suffered as a consequence. • I always looked upon ray association with the Wellington Hosni-. tal as a. privilege and trust the services I have endeavoured to render have been of some value to your institution, If I decide to remain in Wellington I should be.' pleased to become a ..member nf your honorary staff." •' . The board decided to thank Mr. Bond foi' his services as acting-dental surgeon and for the remarks contained in" tho letter quoted above.