The Washington times., 1911-04-21
DENTISTS PLAN TO
AID ENFORCE EMEkT
OF |NSPECT|ONLAW
Capital Society Will Organ
ize Clinic and Donate
Work Free.
ANXIOUS TO REACH
SCHOOL CHILDREN
More Than Ninety Per Cent of
Young Folks Known to
Need Care.

Plans for active cooperation in max
ing effective the dental inspection law
have been completed by the National
Capital Dental Society. The members
of the society have pledged themselves
to devote two hours each month to Civ
ing free treatment to INDECENT children
IN the city schools.
The law passed by Congress providing
for dental inspection in the schools in
the District does not become effective
until July !, the beginning of the new
fiscal year. On this account the Dental
Society holds its plans in allegiance until
after that date
The District Commissioners are not yet
ready to name the two dental inspectors
that are allowed under the act of Con-
gress DR.. c. w. Cuthbsrtson, 800 Sew
enth street, said today that when the
schools open next fall the Dental So
ciety will be ready at once to give
active and practical assistance in max
ing the dental inspection of practical
value to the children of the city.
Plans Made.
The society plans to conduct syste
matte and permanent work in the line
of assisting in the dental work. DR.
Cuthbertson says that for a time the
free work will be done by the members
Of the Dental Society in their own Of
fees. Later 1t is planned to open a CEN
trail clinic with branches in several Sec
tions of the city.
The law provides for the appointment
OF but two inspectors. DR.. Cuthbertson
said that the dentists feel that this con-
cession is far better than none at all
but that with a school population of
ho,. 1,i aff
be done by the two inspectors only With
skilled volunteer aid.
The need of dental inspection and
treatment Of the children in the schools
as protection to their general physical
health and their mental efficiency is
proven, according to DR.. Cuthbertson
by the Investigations made by the Den
tai Society here in its efforts to get the
inspection law.
Nearly All Bad.
He says that members OF the society
examined the mouths of 700 children in
the city schools, and that more than 80
per cent of them either needed work
done, as. health and hygenic protec-
tion, or had been treated by a dentist.
DR.. Cuthbertson said he examined 275
children. and of this number he found
but three with teeth and mouths in per-
feet condition.
That practically all of the known dis
eases are contracted through the mouth
is urged by the members of the society
as strong argument in favor of rigid
inspection.
1t has been found in other States that
the school dental inspection often calls
conditions that need renedying to the
attention of parents. who are able and
anxious to have their children receive
proper attention. 1t has further been
found that school inspection and the
word of a dental inspector helps parents
TO overcome the natural dread and oppo-
sition of children to visiting the den
lists.
When the schools open next fall the
Dental Society will be ready to give to
the children of the poor the best of
service free of charge, on recommenda-
tion of the dental inspectors or the
teachers in the schools. The children
who are not in INDECENT circumstances
WILL be turned over to the family dem
tist through notification by card.