The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-12-04
MANY RECEIVE DENTAL CARE
Report Shows That Some Families Are
Too Poor to Provide Tooth Brushes
and These Are Provided From Gifts
Made by People of the City.

A summary of the results found by
the recent dental inspection among
school children of Kenosha, show an
improved condition. It was found that
twenty-five per cent Of the children
have received dental attention since
last year. Parents are beginning to re-
alize that the money expended to save
children s teeth from decay is an in
vestment whose dividend is better
health, clearer brains, more satisfactory
school progress and stronger probabili-
ties of success in life.
The summary for all the elementary
schools is as follows:
Total number examined, 2,423.
Total number whose teeth need no
dental attention, 933 or 1870.
Total number with one or more de-
fective teeth, and needing dental at
tention, 1870 or 500.
Total number having one or more de-
fective molars, 1923 or 5196.
Total number that have received
dental attention since the inspection
last year, 621 or $500
The teachers were asked to make a
special report upon the third point, be-
cause of the Importance Of the molars,
or grinders to the health of the child.
In 1911, when the first inspection
was made there were only 1890 found
with perfect teeth. In 1912, there were
1920 and this year 1870. 1t will be
seen that conditions are improving.
However, in spite of the efforts of
the schools to form habits of careful
mouth hygiene, in spite of what par
ents are doing for their children, there
are many children in Kenosha who will
continue to suffer for the need of care
now. Their parents have all they can
do to give them shelter, food and cloth
ing and though realizing the need, are
unable to help their children and to
pay for the necessary dental treat
ments This is one Of the many places
where the " Helping School Children =
movement could find cause to support.
A gift Of $1,000 recently sent to the
superintendent to be used in any way
she might see fit for the benefit of
school children, has been invested in
tooth brushes for those most needful Of
this help.
But besides the formation of habits
of cleanliness, which the schools are
endeavoring to establish, there are
things to be done that the schools can
not do. There are many children whose
teeth need filing or whose chewing
powers are interfered with on account
of serious irregularity Of the teeth.
Here expert dental attention is needs
ed. An appropriation by the board of
education for that purpose is believed
to be as legitimate use of public
money as is the purchase Of text books
for those unable to buy them. 1t is
really paying investment for the tax
payers because of the amount Of time
saved by the pupils in the course OF
their schooling. But it is impossible
for the school board to do it. They
have barely money for the essentials
of housing, instruction, supplies and
maintenance. Therefore, until bud
get can be passed to include money
specifically for the promotion of
health, this form of help to school
children will have to come, if at all,
through the work of teachers and
principals in raising money by enter
tainments, or from private benevolence.
Any one desiring TO help children to
receive needed dental treatment, may
communicate with the superintendent
of schools. Any one willing to pay a
bill contracted to relieve some suffer
ing, helpless child, need only specify
the amount he or she is Wiling to pay,
and, if desired, the dentist preferred
for this patronage, and the child or
children most deserving and in most
desperate need, will be selected as the