DENTAL HYGIENE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1921, Page 9

DENTAL HYGIENE.

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS, , START MADE. Wellington, May I'2. The Minister for Public Health, the Hon. 0. J. Parr, has received an interesting report for the year ending March 31 last regarding the administration, of the division of dental hygiene. There are at present six dental surgeons working in the public schools, and they have evidently been busy, as the following summary of operations from October to the end of March indicates:—Fillings, 5619; extractions, 3798; minor operations, 1328; total, 10,745. In addition a’ considerable number of children have been examined and their teeth charted. This has resulted in the treatment of many cases by private practitioners or at hospitals.

In the matter of accommodation for the school clinics, both education boards and committees have been very sympathetic, and have done everything possible to assist the division. In these tinges of financial stress it is most satisfactory to note that up to the present practically nd cost to the country has. been entailed in providing the necessary accommodation, one board being so keenly interested in the movement as to place, its own board room at the disposal of the division for the dental surgery in its district. A considerable saving has also been effected through the foresight displayed in utilising the dental equipment used in connection with the Avar by the military authorities. Were such equipment purchased now it would cost from 75 to 100 per. cent, above pre-war rates. THE TRAINING SCHOOL. An excellent start has been made in the training of the dental nurses. In this matter the department has been fortunate in securing ideal accommodation for the training school in the well-lighted offices in Whitmore Street, built during the war for the Defence Department. The part of the building occupied by the training school has recently been vacated by the Defence Department, so that the only additional cost involved will be a small amount for fittings. For the main clinic a very large room, airy and excellently lighted, will be fitted. In the meantime the 33 dental nurses, who are taking a probationary course, are being instructed in a separate class-room by file dental supervisor. Mr. R. Dunn. To-day an Auckland Herald representative paid a visit to the class at work. appeared to be a very intelligent lot. They were following with keen interest a demonstration in chemistry, in which, together with anatomy, physics, and biology, they will receive a fundamental training.. Part of their time will be occupied with work with the microscope, and later they will commence practical work, making sections of teeth and setting up teeth in ‘dummies,” such as are made for dental students. Not until they have attained the necessary proficiency will they be trusted with small operations on children. A HOSTEL WANTED.

Several of the girls in the class have already had some experience in private dental surgeries, so they do not find themselves in altogether strange surroundings. Such of them as are able to live with their own people get an allowance of £9O a year. Those who come from other towns receive an additional £4O a year. These are the large majority, and they have to make their own arrangements for board and lodging in Wellington. It would be an excellent thing if they could be accommodated in a hostel of their own. Those who, pass satisfactorily through the period of training will become dental nurses in the schools at a salary commencing at £220 and rising to £250 per annum.

Already a dental library in available to the students. Text hooks have been purchased, and Cecil Grey, dental surgeon, has presented a large number of dental journals, and in addition has placed his very fine dental library on loan to the department. Tn addition the director makes acknowledgement of a very handsome contribution of chemical equipment, material, and books from Mr. Dunn, the supervisor. Already medical inspection has shown that in the matter of throat troubles among children attending the • public* schools an improvement has been noticed as the result of dental treatment. Altogether it would seem as if this new branch of the Public Health Department made a very promising start; at all events everyone connected with it is working enthusiastically.