CHILDREN’S TEETH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 46, 17 May 1927, Page 5

CHILDREN’S TEETH

SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS PARENTS SHOULD HELP “The care of school-children’s teeth is a very big problem, and the department has not received the help it expects from parents,” said the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, when he was replying yesterday to a deputation from Onehunga, Mount Roskill and Otahuhu, which asked for the establishment of dental clinics. The Minister told Messrs. W. J. Jordan, M.P., and T. G. Harman, that the dental service could be extended only gradually and that there was little hope of more clinics being established at present. While there were 200,000 children in the primary schools of the country, the department had at present —with the new nurses who had qualified last year—only 60 dental nurses in the field, and the service reached approximately only 35,000 children. “We find in a large number of cases that we are getting far too much repair work back on our hands,” he continued. “This is due to carelessness on the part of parents who do not see that the children take proper care of their mouths and keep them clean and healthy. We cannot reach all the children, and 1 have very seriously to consider whether we should not curtail some of the work we have to do for children over the age of nine, once their mouths have been put in order.” “The position with which the department was faced was that only 30 trainees could be handled, although it was hoped to reach a maximum of 40 at a later stage. The period of training extended over two years, and while the department was anxious to make I available as many nurses as possible, iat present 20 was the maximum for ! each year. The building accommodation was cramped, and it was no good asking the Government to provide the building accommodation that would be necessary for the training of more nurses this year.” Mr. Jordan said he realised the difficulties, but he wished to mention that There was not a clinic in all the southern suburbs of Auckland. There was a tremendous population of young children, and the districts were attracting a great deal of settlement. The Minister replied that it had been pointed out that remote country districts where the people were not rich should be served before urban centres which had access to practising dentists. He thanked the deputation for the information, and agreed to do whatever was possible. He could, however, promise nothing. “It is for members of Parliament,” he added, addressing Mr. Jordan, “to support me when i am urging the House to vote supply on the estimates for the health services of tb»- noonlo "