CHILDREN’S TEETH

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 16

CHILDREN’S TEETH

■ 1 V 1 CARE TAKEN AT PRIMARY SCHOOL DUNEDIN CENTRAL SCHOOLS CLINIC 8,572 OPERATIONS IN TWELVE MONTHS Indicative of the increased attention paid in recent years to the health of children attending primary schools is the Dunedin Central Schools Dental Clinic lately established in the old Training College block in Cumberland street. This is a combination of A and B class clinics—that is, a two-chair and a one-chair clinic—and is the only one of its kind in Otago. The combined clinic has been in operation at the Training College for one month. There are dental clinics associated with other schools in the city, but none has such wide ramifications as this lor it caters for the pupils of six schools. These are North-east Valley, Opoho (which is really an extension of North- ■ east Valley), Arthur Street, George Street, Normal, and Kensington. The scope of work is now widening and pupils, from Upper Junction and several other_ schools will shortly bo coming in, while, over and above these, arrangements are in hand whereby children from a nearby kindergarten and a denominational school will also receive treatment. 12 MONTHS’ OPERATIONS. At the present time approximately 950 pupils a year are receiving attention, but it will be possible for the nurses to handle 1,500 children in a year, and it is intended to build up to this figure. Last year (that is, the 12raouth period ended March), no fewer than 8,572 operations of various kinds were carried out, these being 2,892 fillings of permanent teeth, 0,020 fillings temporary teeth, 51 extractions of permanent teeth, 610 extractions of temporary teeth, and 1,999 other operations. This impressive total was handled by two nurses when the clinic was an A clinic, but this year there are three chairs and three nurses, so it will be seen that the anticipated extension of the work is justified. The nurses

at the present time are handling from eight to 12 cases a day. OLDEST IN NEW ZEALAND. This dental clinic is really the development_ of the oldest clinic in New Zealand, it having been founded 20 years ago in Dr Pickerill’s clinic near the Hospital, and Mr J. S. Nicholson (now senior dental inspector of schools) was the operator. Pupils from the Moray Place School received treatment. To-day the clinic, which is under the supervision of the Health Department, is one of the finest of its kind, and its immediate welfare is controlled by the Dunedin Central Schools Dental Clinic Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr W. L. Moore. This committee is composed of proportionate representation of members of the committees associated with the schools from which pupils are at present drawn. All technical equipment is supplied by the Health Department, but furnishings and other accessories are supplied by j tiie committee from maintenance. Nurse Jenkins is in charge of the clinic, and she lias under her Nurse Howard and Nurse Newman. These nurses are fully-qualified State dental nurses, having undergone the required period of training in Wellington. NATURE OF THE WORK. The clinic takes children from the primary classes to Standard IV., but eventually it is hoped that the work wjll be extended to Standard VI. The clinic guarantees that when children pass from Standard IV. they will all have sound, clean mouths, a sweep!mr statement which could be based only on the standard of work and achievements to date. In botli those respects the results have been 100 per cent. Children have their months inspected and charted at school, this work beginning in the primary classes. For best results the clinic insists on taking children in band, in the most infant classes, and should there be any objection, or should they not come under the clinic's care before entering the higher classes the clinic does not cater for them. Each child has a complete record of the state of his or her mouth, and the varying duties carried out thereon. Every endeavour is made to preserve teeth, rather than extract, and the action adopted in insisting that the youngest children come under the clinic’s care has resulted in a very great

improvement in the state of teeth, and a big reduction in extractions about six and seven years. With the extension of the work to kindergartens, teeth will be under care for a still longer period, with, naturally, much more beneficial results. PARENTS’ CONSENT NECESSARY, When a child’s teeth are first found to require attention, parents are at once communicated with, and their consent sought to bestow that attention at the clinic. If consent is given care starts immediately, and for whatever may be required tbe one standard charge is made—namely, 3s a year. Consent, unfortunately, is not always given, though the percentage of refusals is very small. The main objection raised by parents is that the work cannot bo carried out efficiently at such a low charge, while occasionally allegations are made that the nurses are not sufficiently trained. As for the latter point, the nurses, as has been shown, are fully qualified to undertake the work. In the event of abnormal or unusually difficult cases arising, the patients are referred to dental surgeons. So far as the charge is concerned, the clinic is not a money-making institution. Its purpose is to care for t Jig teeth' of the children, and the charge is only to cover upkeep. The department gives authority to clinics to charge up to 5s a year for individual cases, but the Dunedin Central Schools Clinic finds it can carry on at 3s. Where parents are unable to pay, treatment may bo arranged free of charge. The rooms are very bright and cheerful, while the nurses are kindness itself to the children. The immediate effect on anyone entering is that the dentist’s room is a cheery sort of place to attend, and none of the children seen about the clinic while the ‘ Star ’ was visiting showed any signs of nervousness. Under the good-natured banter of the nurses, they clambered into the chairs with an alacrity that made the reporter, recalling bis own trepidation and horrible memories of the past, feel lie was looking on a most unnatural sight. This co-operation coming from the children makes the work of the nurses very much easier, aiding to a better-finished job. The nurses praise the children for their attitude, not seeming to realise it is developed through their own treatment of the little patients.