LEVIN'S SCHOOL DENTAL SYSTEM.

Shannon News, 16 May 1924, Page 4

LEVIN'S SCHOOL DENTAL SYSTEM.

FINEST IN NEW ZEALAND. BUT NUT UTILISED TO FULLEST EXTENT- POSSIBLE. At the meeting of the Levin School Coinnhttee on Monday night vlio lollowilig report, received by the chairman, from Mr D. S. Mackenzie, one iof the -school dentists, was read : "Dear Sir,—ln sending this dhou dental report 1 beg to state that since 'my staff commenced operations at the school nearly live years ago we shave inseiaed 1300 fillings, performed numerous minor operations and have extracted, various numbers of teeth under gas on 200 occasions. "The scheme lias received a gfca.t impetus since the committee*took the matter up—'proof ol this lies in the l'act that as much work has been done in the past 15 months its in the preceding three years. "Wliat was merely thought, could be accomplished at the beginning oi things we have, by actual experience

.■■■'% found to be more- than borne out. Without doubt the mope of the future in dentistry as in, medicine lies in. prevention. ,: The great point in the treatment is to get the children at six years of age il the full benefit is to be derived. One has reason for believing that if children of normal health are- secured at tills ago we can get theni through their school days witliout serious dental trouble, or to put it another way it is possible from the experience derived to Obtain 00. per cent, of dental iitness in the school. We sincerely believe that the system adopted' by .your committee is if fully developed, capable of producing quite good results, nevertheless should any other form of treatment be available we would Welcome it being given the same fair trial as this. Everyone knows that .all school dental clinics . are still much in the 'trying out' stage and possibly tor this reason alone parents should be afforded every opportunity to choose-the form "of treatment that most appeals to them. Such an opportunity would in effect really be the "acid test" as to whether the system in vogue is actually desired or not. Until this is known it can hardly be expected that this system will be developed as it might he developed. "Personally,' 1 have visions of a well equipped dental surgery mounted on a motor visiting every school between Shannon and Paekakariki with a -first-class man in charge, whose, chief object in life will be keepingsall those children in that area denial ly fit, if their parents desire it. "In conclusion. I desire to thank your committee and the teachers-for the support they have at all times extended to us, especially the teachers. —Yours faithfully, D. S. MACKENZIE, Dentist." The chairman (Mr D. W. Mathe s on) asked old 'members of the committee or the headmaster to explain the scheme for <be informiaftian of the newly-elected mieniibcrs. Mr .Foss, the headmaster, said the > School Committee had mow taken over • the entire financial management of the scheme. The dental officers' were responsible to the committee for the treatment: of air children'enrolled on the dental register. Enrolment was gained by {he payment of £1 per child per year. In Mr Mackenzie's case, he attended at the school during three periods in the course of the year and did whatever work was required. Between those periods the children had all the privileges of private patients in rega.rd to attention required at the surgery. At the end of the year the dentist sent in a report upon the work done. Mr Hall, the other dentist, did not- attend at the school, but gave all the attention required by . the children patients on his list at his suirgery. The details of the scheme were controlled by a dental con in nit tee set up by the School Committee, and they,made rules and regulations in conference with the had master, these being submitted to the whole committee for confirmation. A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY.

• Last year tbe .committee made application to the Government for official recognition of the scheme. A deputation waited on the Minister for Health, Sir Maui Pomare, and was successful in getting a subsidy of 5s hi the .L' mn local contributions, which meant a sum of £SO from the .Government. Alter lull consideration the Dental Committee had recommended 'h'H ihi.s sum be applied in reduction of the fees in cases of families of three, ./our arid five children. Fees for five children would be £3 10s, four children £3,- three children £S7s 6d. Already the scheme had had decidedly beneficial effects upon title children, a little over 200 of whom were on the dental lists. He would like to see the number increased to 300. He was.satisfied that the parents of this town and district wi&re receiving a very; large 20s worth when they enrolled their children on the dental roll. The scheme had been recom-

mended in other districts, and in the centres the Governmient scheme was in operation. In the latter case the attention was not given by qualified dental practi doners, ,but by dental nurses. The Minister for Public Health, "when lie had the scheme explained to him. had remarked • that there was no scheme equal to it in the Dominion.

In answer to Mr Kcrslake, the headmaster said the reduction in fees was made in every case of families and would opci'ate in this year's enrolments as they, came due, not -last years'. Mr Anderson expressed the opinion' that it would be preferable to expend the. Government subsidy in bringing children into the scheme whose parents could not at present a.fford to pay the fees. Mr Matheson said the fact that only 200 children out. of 750 on the roll* were on the ' lists, showed''that parents did not realise the advantages of dental attention. This was difficult to Understand seeing that the

local scheme had received good pubI licity. \ Mr Gardiner said all parents had been circularised on the matter. Mr Matheson said their appreciation was due to the dentists. who were making it" possible for « local children to receive dental attention so reasonably. That should be placed an record. Messrs Gardiner, Anderson and Matheson were appointed a dental committee, and were directed to report to next meeting on the position of the scheme, which will' then he* further considered with a view tQ extending its usefulness.