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therefore arranged that, as from 1st April, 1935, the age group 7-8 years should
be included, that the age group 11 years should be added during the year commencing
1st April, 1936, and that in the succeeding year the entrants and leavers
group should be included, so that, at the end of the year 1937, children of all ages
in the schools will be inspected annually by the inspecting dentists. The number
of children inspected by the school dentists during the year 1935 was 290,021, compared
with 273,672 during 1934. The number found to require treatment was 183,035,
or 63.11 per cent. The following table shows the steady improvement in the condition
of the teeth of the children in London as the result of 22 years continuous effort in
propaganda, treatment and following-up. Whilst the position leaves much to be
desired, there is reason to believe that to a considerable extent both parents and
children are now realising the importance and value of dentistry. The greatest
difficulty is still to be found in persuading parents to accept early treatment,
especially when children are apparently suffering no inconvenience.

The total number of children treated was 144,383, compared with 138,140
during the year 1934, an increase of 6,243. Included in the total is the number of
children (3,774) from the 16 elementary schools allocated to the Eastman clinic,
who were treated at the clinic, and 33 scholarship cases, as well as 511 cases dealt
with at Berkshire Road school. In addition to the numbers given above, there were
8,542 children from schools not allocated to the Eastman clinic, who voluntarily
presented themselves and were treated at the clinic. •
The number of treatment sessions, including 3,296 general anaesthetic sessions,
held during the year was 18,436 compared with 18,211 during 1934. An analysis
of the work undertaken is set out in table IV, group IV. The quality of the work
has been maintained, and the centres have been well attended. The addition of
the 7-8 year old group has caused congestion at certain of the centres, and extra
sessions have been arranged where required.
Orthodontics.
The question of providing orthodontic treatment in connection with school
dentistry has not in the past generally been seriously considered by local authorities
owing to the greater demands for a dental service primarily needed to deal with
the vast amount of dental caries which was evident among the school children.
As time elapses and the general condition of the mouths of the children improves,
it is possible to extend the operation of the scheme to include the treatment of
orthodontic cases. For example, a successful scheme has been described by the