New Britain herald., 1922-02-11
DENTAL CLINIC IS STRONGLY DEFENDED
To End It Would Hamper Fight
 on I. B, Dr. zWick Says

That the cutting out of the s6,00o appropriation asked for dental clinic does not necessarily mean the finish Of that clinic. is indicated by tho action of Dr. Frank Iwick this morning in calling together nession of the general committee to discuss the situation,
 The meeting of the committee will be held at the Chamber of Commefce room at 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. Members of that committee are Dr.. Zwick, Mrs Fl. M Bates. Miss Cora NJ. Beale Miss Caroline F. Bartlett, II. F. Hodge, Will $. Howe, Dr. R. j.. Protass. Ray L. Maxim, Mrs. Alfred Thompson, Ernest R. Dechant and pr. J. $. Irwin.
 Plans in Dark.
 Just what the future plans of the committee are has not been divulged. Dr. Iwick left early this morning on trip to New York and does not cx- pect to return before tomorrow after noon. It is understood that the com mittee has several plans under,ron- sideration which will be launched after the meeting Monday.
 Injustice to City.
 "It would be an injustice 10 the city and an injustice to the children to turn down this appropriation, said Dr. Zwick this morning. "The city Of New Britain is beginning 10 realize" he continued, that it is in the throes of tuberculosis with about 800 cases on hand. Tuberculosis can be stamped out by the present scien- tiic knowledge that is known to ex- perts.
 Would Wipe Out CT. R."
 If d proper health program were carried out and taught the children, as is incliped in this dental hygiene work, it would go d long way towards educating our younger element through the schools in wiping out tu- berculosis and other communicable diseases.
 Tt is d known fact that most of our diseases are carried through the mouth, and dental hygiene has to do with the sanitary conditions of the mouth as well as other parts of the body
 Dcplorable Conditions.
 All the children of the first five grades of the public schools have had their teeth examined and the chil- dren of the Children's Home have had their teeth repaired since the opening of the clinic in the Booth block The inspection of the lower flva grades has brought to light the fact. that out of 5,036 children eX- amined, 4,803, or almost 96 per cent, were found to have decayed teeth. Only 2S3 children of the whole b,o3b were found to be without cavities; s9o were found with clean mouths; 1.2Ss were found with mouths fairly clean and 3,178 were found with un- clean mouths, The total number or cavities found was 30,964, Of which approximately 10000 were perma- nent moIars, according to the clinic report.
 The closing of the dental clinic would mean that the $1,500 collected by popular subscription last fall to start the movement would practically be wasted, Dr. Zwick says. The com mittee has employed part time dentist and a dental hygienist out Of that appropriation, under contract which will carry them over until April first There is about Sl,o0O worth of equipment in the clinic headquarters, which would pass into disuse, he pointed out.
 To Clean Teeth.
 A personal report on the teeth Of. each child in the first five grades will. be sent to the parents of the chill dren, by Miss Jennie Shaver, the dental hygenist, as soon as the re- ports are completed. Next week Miss Shaver will clean the teeth of the Rockwell school children.