DENTAL CLINIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 2

DENTAL CLINIC

SERVICE IN MASTERTON

MUCH BRIGHTER OUTLOOK.

LOCAL COMMITTEE CONGRATUL ATED.

Mr E. G. Coddington presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton Dental Clinic, when there were also present Mrs J. G. Dagg, Nurses Johnston and Horner, Messrs P. H. Shaw, J. McDonald, L. Robinson, C. K. Long, W. H. French and the secretary. Mr J. G. McFarlane. Apologies for absence were received from Mrs W. James, Messrs'S. Haybittie and S. G. Allan. Accounts amounting to £3 17s lOd were passed and the treasurer reported that payment of subscriptions was still being well maintained. The clinic report showed that during the month 703 fillings and 63 extractions had been carried out and the appointments numbered 487. Quite a number of visits had been made to the clinic during the month it had been open for inspection. There was still room for the treatment of children of pre-school age and parents should have an inspection carried out prior to the schools’ term holidays when the clinic also closed. During the month an inspection of the clinic and visits to the Masterton West and Whatman schools were made by Mr A. W. Brice, Senior Dental Officer of the Health Department, Wellington, and his report was before the meeting. Mr Brice stated that inspection of the mouths of children revealed that a very satisfactory standard of operative work .was being maintained, and that co-operation between dental nurses and teachers was good, also that the organisation of the work of the district as a whole was in a much imi proved state and had fully justified the appointment of the third dental nurse. The extension of treatment to Standard 5 pupils and the inclusion, of pre-school children was proceeding satisfactorily. There was, however, still room for some acceleration of this phase, and he asked for the co-operation of the committee in arousing the interest of parents. The numbers at present being treated were not high but were steadily increasing largely as a result of the cbmmittee’s publicity and he had no doubt that before long the three nurses would have more than sufficient to keep them fully occupied. Opportunities would be taken to carry out some educational work in the schools within the clinic area.

Mr Brice said he was pleased to report that the future outlook of the service in Masterton and the surrounding districts showed a greatly altered position, from the somewhat depressing atmosphere which was apparent a little more than 12 months ago. His Department recognised that the improvement had been brough about solely by the activities of the committee, and he extended his Department’s sincere thanks and congratulations upon the results so far obtained.