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81
As a new Hospital is being erected, I will refrain from further comment on the
present premises.
I have endeavoured to set out below the chief points of interest:—
1.—SCHOOL CHILDREN.
The rapid increase of attendances made by the school children appears to be
due to the fact that the Hospital is becoming more popular with this type of patient.
The reason for this is probably that parents of the patients are finding that the
Hospital is prepared to give close attention to the various diseases of the teeth and
to the saving of existing teeth where possible, in preference to extracting them.
It must not be forgotten that the period of 5-14 years is very important for
dental treatment, because at these ages baby teeth are being shed and permanent
ones coming into position. Owing to the present-day diet it is at this period that
permanent teeth are misplaced and irregularly formed. The correction of dental
diseases at this age will have a beneficial and far-reaching effect on the health of
the Borough in years to come. Many children are sent to the Hospital because
their bad teeth have caused digestive troubles. These are, in my opinion, caused
by (1) absorption of septic matter from the mouth, (2) inefficient masticating area
through loss of teeth.
If the child of to-day, who will be the citizen of to-morrow, receives early and
regular dental treatment, much digestive and other illness will be prevented.
A most gratifying result obtained in this branch of the work has been the
education of parents to accept the advice of the Dental Surgeon as to the treatment
and preservation of baby teeth. Parents are too apt to come to the Hospital with
a demand for wholesale extractions.
2.—ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
(or regulation of misplaced teeth).
Orthodontic treatment covers much more ground than is generally understood.
A few of the cases which have passed through my hands at the Hospital during
the past year will give one an idea of how varied the work really is, and what treatment
the word "orthodontic" covers.
(a) A boy, aged 9, with upper lip shortened, and in consequence a bad mouth
breather. After treatment with a lip exerciser and an oral screen, the
lip developed to such an extent that he is now a good nose breather,
with a more intelligent look.
(b) A child with the upper lip firmly attached to the upper gum, thus preventing
the child from speaking correctly. After treatment, which necessitated
cutting away the fibrous attachment, the child's lips are now quite
normal.