Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-16
Enforced Teeth
Work in N. Y.
Shows Fine Results

New York, Sept. Is GA. P)-Be-
cause of its deep interest In the sub
ject. the best method to care for the
teeth Of school children Is being
sought by the New York Association
for Improving the Condition OF the
Poor. The association began with
5000 youngsters in the public school
cent. of the children examined need
ed dental work. Today this percent.
age Is only 40. The number Of cases
requiring extraction has been reduc-
ed 63 per cent, and the need for fill-
ings has gone down II per cent.
During the first year II children out
of every hundred got diplomas for
clean mouths; during the last year
the diplomas ran 50 to the hundred.
Communities are only beginning
to awaken to their responsibility OF
providing complete preventive
dental program for school children,
Bailey 3. Burret; general director Of
the association. said today in MAX
years OF study. The responsibility
for organizing and interpreting this
service in oral hygiene has fallen on
John c. Gebhart. director of tho A.
/. c. P.'s department OF social well
fare, who has prepared an appraisal
of four years experience with the
demonstration
Mr.. Gebhart's report. in part, fol-
lows: when this intensive plan was
first undertaken. very limited dent
al service was already In operation.
The city authorities cooperated In
the larger idea, and the School of
Oral Hygiene of Columbia University
also helped. Each year a corps Of
undergraduate students. under care
full supervision. has given prophy-
Tactic cleanings to the school chff-
dren of the area concerned. To say
have given 1O.0SS clcanings tells only
part of the story. They have been
crusaders for oral hygiene in this
district. BY completing an entire
class of children each day. they rap
idly run through an entire school.
and that with a minimum amount OF
confusion or interruption of school
work.
1.-THE increase In those needing no
corrective dental work and in those
awarded diplomas for having kept
their mouth clean has been steady.
There has also been marked redur-
ton (from S5.4T to 46.4M in chill
dren requiring filings, for the most
part iIf III oI PCA AiOAaA De
While the proportion needing filings
is slightly greater than last year, the
proportion needing extractions hag
been reduced from 1880 to 32M
This is again a most encouraging
sign. for it means that more children
have savable teeth than last year,
and for such, filings rather than ex-
fractions arc indicated. There Is al
so direct evidence that the filings re-
quired are of far less extensive ma
/ ture than when that work first be-
gan, for in 1920, 500 Of the filings
were urgent. while in 1923 only 370n
were urgent.
Everywhere one sees a marked
awake ming of all elements in the
community to the importance Of this
work accompanied by a Willingness
to cooperate in every way to make
it a success. The principals and
teachers in the schools of the dis
trict have made real sacrifices In
providing the necessary space. Prac-
teal instruction in oral hygiene Is
made a part Of the classroom work
by the grade teachers.
principals and teachers also co..
operated IN the sale of tooth brushes
to the children at the nominal price
of seven cents. As q result Of these
efforts practically all of the children
now purchase tooth brushes In
school. The demonstration has prov.
ed that a dental service which 10 ad.
ministered as an integral part of the
daily school program produces the
most widespread and lasting results.
Our experience has shown that. when
the dental clinic IL in the school
building, children can be sent d..
rectly from the classroom to the
dental clinic with q minimum Of
waste time. both for Pupil and opera
tor. and with a minimum amount Of
confusion and disruption Of class
room work"