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from the Borough Dental Surgeon. This ensures co-operation
between doctor and dental surgeon, which is essential, for an
unhealthy or septic mouth may render negligible the most skilful
treatment on the part of the medical officer concerned. This
statement is endorsed by the Tuberculosis Officer who reports
considerable improvement in those patients who have consented to
dental treatment.
A large percentage of those who attended the clinic were
suffering from extensive periodental disease and/or extensive dental
caries, which necessitated drastic treatment. Periodental disease or
Pyrrhœa Alveolaris results in the formation of pus with a corresponding
absorption of the bone which supports the teeth. Without
treatment the teeth become loose, and the pus is either swallowed
—causing gastric troubles—or is directly absorbed into the blood,
causing general rheumatic and nervous conditions.
The Tuberculosis Officer administered gas, and it is important
and interesting to note that every operation was highly successful.
Gas was administered on twelve occasions, the total number of
extractions being 164.
Unfortunately, on the part of the patients themselves, there
seems to be a great aversion to conservative treatment, the opinion
being that extractions remove the source of trouble with the minimum
of time and discomfort. This idea is erroneous, as fillings can
now be done quite painlessly, and should preserve the teeth for a
number of years. Extractions result in gaps which must be filled
or a deficiency in masticating power will result. Defective health
follows defective mastication, and, prevention being better than
cure, all patients are instructed in the use of the toothbrush, which
is of primary importance in the care of the teeth. In necessitous
cases dentifrice has been supplied gratis.
Appreciation of the dental clinic is shown by the great increase
in the number of patients, and in view of this increase the desirability
of an additional session might be considered by the Committee in the
near future.