PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

Otaki Mail, 6 September 1922, Page 3

PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY

FINE RESULTS OBTAINED IN HOROWHENUA. A great deal is being wnLen ani said in the cities about the sHiockin, ' condition of New Zealanders' teetl • and the effect upon the national phy Slque. It is to be doubted whetne much advance is being made in prai tical betterment, except in the genera benefits that must accrue from such . vigorous and sustained campaign, fo instance, as that carried on by tin Government Director of Dental Health and the frequent public statements & experts., it is safe to say tjhat few, i, any parts of the Dominion have sue); a record of practical achievement as that which Ims been carried on under I Mr D. S. Mackenzie's scheme during the past three years in the Horowhenua County. A "Mail" representative who enquired as -to the progress t|he movement was making elicited one or two striking facts. Starting some three years ago with 150 children receiving treatment on this coast, the number has noft - grown to 500, practically all the schools in the district being represented. So far as is known, not one child has lost a permanent tooth in that period after having had its teeth put in order. Ttfie condition of the children's mouths, as the result of following a few simple rules impressed on them, is on the whole vastly improved. Mr Mackenzie is convinced that it is possible to provide a service in this County that will tend to raise the standard of the rising generation's teeth enormously. There is no reason, financial or otherwise, why children attending the schools on this coast should not have tolerably sound teeth, and therefore healthy mouths and unimpaired general health. All that is necessary is regularity in cleaning ijhe teeth and a little quite bearable treatment—provided the latter is curried out at the right time. This provision is the essence ol the scheme under notice. It is necessary that the child should first %•- ceive attention at the age of six when the permanent teeth first make their appearance .Dental decay is litius arrested in its early stages and regular inspections thereafter keep it in cheek and eliminate the necessity of overtaking long overdue arrears of attention at heavy expense. As in medicine, so ill dentistry, the hope of the future lies in prevention rather than repairtug the damage alter it is done. Questioned as to whether his scheme was self-supporting, Mr Mackenzie said he had not gone very deeply into Uhat aspect of the matter. He had first taken the question up because he considered the dental profession owed a duty to the community to give it the best service it was capable of, and to combat the ravages of denial decay in a manner creditable to the profession : and beneficial to the greatest number ' in the community. He. would not deny, however, that the problem had now resolved itself into an economic rather Mian a professional ojil\ am! the reader will sec (that at the lee charged of L'l per child per year, after allowances are made for fees uncollectable, there is not ;m excessive amount, even with 500 mimes on the list, out of v- hieh to pay a professional salary, travelling expenses over such a widespread County us Horowhenua. and provide material and facilities. Parents with vivid recollections of tho cos-i of then own and their families dental bills will appreciate the modesty of Hie

pay a professioiiaj salary, travellipg expenses over such a widespread County us Horowhenua. apd provide uiaterial and facilities. Parents with vivid recollections of tho cost of then own and their families dental bills will appreciate the modesty of Hie charge of .';l pei year. There are wa.vs. [however, in which assistance might be given to the scheme, though the originator of it puts forward no plea or claim lor such aid. The educational authorities, for instance might do something towards the collection ol the fees and the provision in nil schools of facilities for examination and treatment. This latter would be an especial boon in country centres remote from dental surgeries. Part of the Government's policy for improving dental conditions is-tjhe training of young women to a ct as nurses and the first quota of thirty will have completed their training at the end of the year. If one of these trained operators were stationed in this County her services would be o.t' very great assistance iii furthering the cause of dental health and where so sound a basis has been established by private initiative and enthusiasm it should not be too much [o expect this measure of §t%\4 co-operation.

These eonsitteratioiis. however, mat only lead up to the main, objective of' this article, which is to direct the attention of parents still outside. I lift scheme to its benefits., i'ue. charge is practically a n.onifcji&J cuie—-something in, the nature, of au insurance against decay and a!! i<he ills u brings >n its train. Ih the- individual interests of our children no less ihan as a step towards the physical betterment of the nation, it is surely worth some sacrifice to. give the men and women of to-morrow a fair stftrt.. dentally, on their way through life.