DENTAL HYGIENE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1932, Page 2

DENTAL HYGIENE

INSTRUCTION A NECESSITY, DUTY OF PARENTS. PREVENTION FOR?' HEALTH. An appeal to parents to give greater attention to the care of children's teeth and not merely to rely on clinical treatment, is made by Mr J. L. Saunders, Director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, in his annual report. Treatment of children for dental troubles continues to play a large part in the activities of the Health Department, although this social service was one affected by the Government’s recent economy measures, and it will be made" more self-supporting than in tqe past. Healthy teeth count for much in the physical fitness of a child as in an auult, and for this reason Mr Saunders pointy out that actual operative treatment is not sufficient.

“Modern research has amply proved that dental disease is, to a great extent, preventable, and every opportunity is taken of instructing both children and parents in the fundamental principles of dental hygiene,” he says. “The interest shown by teachers in supervising the children’s lunches is a pleasing feature of this aspect of the work. It is very gratifying to find that so many parents take a keen and practical interest in the teachings of the department, with the result that the dental standard of their children steadily improves, This is evidenced by a decrease in ohe amount of recurrent treatment required during successive years.

“Unfortunately, there are still some parents who fail to realise their responsibility in this matter. They allow their children to attend the clinics for treatment-, but they fail to take any active steps on the lines indicated by the depaitmnt to preserve the teeth and prevent dental disease. In consequence, no diminution is apparent at successive periodical inspections. A continuance of treatment in such cases is not warranted.

“During the year much has been done to bring the principles of dental hygiene to the notice of children and parents. Apart from chair-side instruction and the distribution of literature, many talks have been given b.v dental nurses to classes in the schools, and many ■ addresses have been given to meetings of mothers of patients and to various women’s organisations.

“As in previous years, the trained nurses’ poet-graduate course arranged by the department included a series of lectures on dental hygiene by officers of this division. Engaging as they do in various forms of public health work, these nurses come into close touch with both parents and children, and, though primal ily concerned with general health problems, their work must ultimately»result in a higher standard of dental health as well.”