New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-13
DENTISTS IN THE Schools
One Building Shows so Per Cent
of Pupils Has Bad Teeth.
URGE FREE DENTAL SERVICE
DR.. Wheeler, in Charge Of Vol
unteet Inquiry Now Under
Way, Hopeful of Scheme.

Regular dental inspection Of the public
school children Of the city will in all prob
ability he established within a compare
lively short time according to Or. Herbert
l.. Wheeler. vice-president of the 1st Dis
trict Dental Society
DR.. Wheeler. under the authorization OF
the Board of Education, Is at present. with
the help OF fifteen assistants. making an
investigation OF the teeth Of the children
Of the citys public schools SO far he has
received returns from only one building.
school at Broadway and 18th street, in
which Or. Waldo Mork. dental inspector
Of Fordham Hospital, has examined the
teeth Of two thousand children. This
school is one that contains pupils Of an
unusually high social status, and yet even
here Or. Mork has found 60 per cent Of
the children had defective teeth.
DR.. Wheeler said yesterday that it was
probable that the teeth of between 80 and
90 per cent OF the school children Of New
York were in need Of attention.
"Our examination as yet has not gone
far enough for us TO give any definite
opinion in regard to the condition OF the
teeth Of our school children said Dr.
Wheeler. but the one school that we have
examined is probably Of much higher
grade than the average I am decidedly
in favor OF the city giving free dental ser
vice 10 the children, and j think that II
the childrens teeth are properly attended
TO before they are twelve, II will prove an
economic saving 10 tine city, and what Is
more, I think the Board OF Education Is
fully awake to the problem. Bad teeth are
great storehouses Of germs, especially those
Of pneumonia and intestinal diseases, and
I have little doubt if the city takes steps
TO remedy this evil in its children that the
death rate Of the community viii be low
cred
Yet by this I don't want 20 give the I'M
preston that American chiidren's teeth are
worse than those Of other nations. In fact
/ think they are better than those OF the
children OF England, Germany or France.
In Italy. strange to say, the children
teeth are unusually fine and the same Is
the case with the negroes. Why this is 50
it is impossible TO say. as We really as
yet do not know what makes teeth decay.
though, undoubtedly, simple living is most
helpful. But good teeth are a necessity to
US, who as a nation seem predlsposed 10
Intestinal disorders To ward Off this the
proper mastcation Of food is essential
Germany ana England are both awake
to this evil, and most of their municipal
ties have free dental clinics In the schools.
Bad teeth are most prevalent in England,
where even persons of wealth often pay
little attention to caring for them. This IS
not the case with us. yet il is q fact that
the greater proportion Of our children
teeth are in need OF attention.
LAS most damage is done 10 the teeth be-
tween the ages Of six and twelve IL seems
as If the city owed a duty 10 its citizens
in protecting the teeth Of its children. I
am happy 20 say that Dr. Maxwell and
Associate Superintendent Straubmulle-- are
both alive 10 the situation and are doing
everything en- their power TO assist our in
vestieations. We have given our services
free of charge, as mas the bureau OF child
hygiene of the Russell Sage Institute. we
nope to complete the examination Of all
twelve schools in about q year, and then
we will make a report TO the Board Of
Education"