The board of education of a municipality or county may maintain and conduct therein dental clinics for the treatment and relief of indigent children. The operator in the clinic must be registered to practice dentistry in this state. For the maintenance and equipment of the clinics there may be appropriated annually in a municipality or county, in the manner in which money for other school purposes is appropriated, such sum not exceeding five thousand dollars as may be deemed advisable.
N.J.S. § 44:6-2