PAEROA DENTAL CLINIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5201, 9 November 1927, Page 3

PAEROA DENTAL CLINIC.

BUST TIME SINCE OPENING.

MANY CHILDREN TREATED.

Since the opening of the dental clinic at the Paeroa District, High School early'in August last a great amount of dental work has been done. To the end of October 206 school children in preparatory classes have had their mouths charted, and 156 children have received treatment. Of these numbers, 114 were examined at Paeroa and 93 treated; KarangaMke School, 17 examined and 12 treated ; Netherton School, 34 examined and 27 treated; Tirohia School, 12 examined and 8 treated; and Hlkutaia School, 29 examined and 16 treated. An idea of the amount of work ~ that has been performed can be gauged by the fact that 313 temporary teeth and 25 permanent teeth have beem extracted under a local anaesthetic ; 329 temporary teeth a.nd 134 permanent teeth have been filled. - The total attendances number 413, involving 893 operations. Treatment of children in the prim e ' J ‘ classes is free at the clinic, and quit© optional, and it is pleasing to report that the majority of parents are not slow to realise the value of the treatment, and in very few instances has a refusal been received. Once the children at the outside schools have been examined by Miss L. C. Ellis, the dental nurse in charge, the treatment required is Parents are advised accordingly, and a consent form is sent to each parent. On receipt of the form authorising Miss Ellis to carry out the treatment required, th© children are brought to the clinic at Paeroa and treated 1 - The cost of transport of the children to and from the clinic is borne by the committee of the school at whici) the children are attending. Also the expenses of the dental nurse from her headquarters at Paeroa to the school and return have to be fpund by the committee. AS the controlling body, the Paeroa District High School Committee is . frequently receiving the approbation of parents, and many congratulatory remarks have been passed in connection with the facilities provided for improving and increasing the health of the children of Paeroa and district. A point that is perhaps not understood by many parents is that children from the age of two and a half years are eligible at the- clinic for treatment. The object is to arrest wastage and decay of teeth in children as ' early as possible, and obviously the sooner treatmeint or advice can be given the better for the child, and the less treatment required when school age is reached. Parents may visit the clinic -during school hours, where advioe will be given by Miss Ellis