Pupils treated to a day at the dentist
There was much excitement among the young pupils of the Mommy's Play Date Group at a local dental practice.
NEWCASTLE – There was much excitement among the young pupils of the Mommy’s Play Date Group at a local dental practice.
Children from the group were treated to a field trip to a dentist as part of their home school curriculum on the morning of May 6 to learn more about the dentistry profession.
Dr Larika Robb welcomed all the children and their guardians with the usual opening gambit of the importance of dental care.
Dr Robb purposely created a child-friendly environment in her practice so any youngster visiting, would feel at ease in her dentist’s chair. Dr. Robb said children were her favourite kind of patients.
She was only too happy to give the pupils “rides” on her bright mint green dental chair, while demonstrating how a tooth or bridge can be milled on demand from a tiny ceramic block in a machine that closely resembles a lathe.
The Mommy’s Play Date Group started in Dundee just over a year ago, and has grown to accommodate 14 children from various communities in and around Newcastle. Their ages range from two to 12 years.
The pupils were then taken next door where Helgard du Preez plies his trade as a dental technician. The pupils were shown how dentures where made from moulds received from various dental practitioners around town.
When asked about the advantages of home schooling, the parents had this to say:
Marinda Labuschagne said, “The individual attention that her children receives is far better than in a traditional schooling environment.”
Madeleine Myburgh said, “I took my child out of school and could see a vast improvement the very next day.”
The main disadvantage seems to be the lack of regular social interaction, but these organised field trips make up for it.
All the youngsters received a goodie bag from Dr Robb as a thank you gift.
