XN000022-1972-07-08 — Page 2

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Saturday, July 8, 1972

In order to achieve the purpose of positive dental health, it

was essential that children should be taught to understand and appreciate

it at as early an age as possible.

Dr. Choa also spoke of three of a series of inter-related factors

which determine the degree to which dental health education goals could be

achieved.

The first was the accessibility of dental health services and

of advice in which individuals have confidence. "In this respect, Hong

Kong is fortunate in having a dental profession which has shown great

concern in dental health education and persistently tried to put the

message over to the people," he said.

The second was the economic feasibility of putting into practice

the dental health measures advocated. Dr. Choa said the introduction of

fluoridation of water in 1961 was a first but significant step which had

already produced good results, and consideration was being made of the

proposal to set up a Dental Nurses Training School and subsequently a

Dental Health Service for school children.

The third measure, which he thought was the meaning of holding a

Dental Health Week, was the acceptability of the proposed dental health

practices in terms of the customs, traditions and beliefs of individuals,

families and groups.

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