1950-11-18 — Page 3

How Dentist Wins a Tot's Confidence

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH begins when an attendant offers a simple, explanation of her chart and what the session in chair will mean for this girl

SQUIRTING WATER in the dentist's bowl is just as much fun as in wading pool. and although she is "tagged" for treatment, this patient reacts with a smile.

own just what it wrong in this mouth, but be-

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THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1950.

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· Pride and envy are displayed by this trio as a patient bogetfully wxhibin the results of her visit to the Ciinle, for whose advanced-methode she now-is a booster.

BRUSHING AWAY AN OLD FEAR

“BRUSH UP AND DOWN, not sideways," the fristructor drills her pupil in this novel school- ing before an over-size model which shows just where all teeth are that must be kept clean.

IT'S ONE THING to show a youthful grin backed by gleaming teeth, but to grin in the dentist's chair, while those teeth tré, kdp" healthy is definitely another matter, The older generation may think it a miracle, but thousands of young patients at New York City' Guggenheim Dental Clinic, have learned that a visit to the dentist can be an exciting adventure.

Children in' public and parochial schools are visited by a mobile laboratory unit which makes preliminary examinations without thể use of frightening instruments. When they come to the Guggenheim Clinic in the company of teachers and groups of their school friends the youngsters awalt their turns In a room made reassuringly friendly by murals of familiar nursery rhymes, `

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- Attendants trained in the psychological aspect of dental practice with children, discuss teeth charts and treatment with each patient, trying in every way to remove that apprenhension and fear which a generation ago went hand in hand with a child to the dentist's chair.

Although the Guggenheim Dental Clinic, in its five-story structure. which cost $930,000, is the largest of its kind in the world, the best of treatment is given to children regardless of ability to pay for X-rays, fillings, straightening and even childhood dentures.

With the strong emphasis placed upon non-frightening technique, the vast clinic systematically sees that there are no long waits to breed fearful thoughts in young patients. Likewise each child is guar anteed an hour's work in the course of which the attending dentist lets his patient play with some of the instruments he uses, Toothbrush drill for the youngsters not only teaches them to brush up and down rather than sideways, but makes, a game, of it by having a dozen children brushing away, each at his own handbasin. At the conclusion of the drill, the brushes may be taken home. It is Htilo' wonder that the clinic is known as the "place where they don't hurt you"