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77
The Report on Dental Treatment will be found in the succeeding
pages, and I have now only to acknowledge once more
my indebtedness to every member of the Public Health and
Dispensary Staff for their assistance and co-operation in carrying
out the work.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
M. MACDONALD, M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H.
TUBERCULOSIS DENTAL CLINIC.
Mr. G. F. Ferris, L.D.S.. R.C.S. ((Eng.), reports as
follows: —
The mouth is the chief channel of entrance of organisms,
and is the foci of septic processes. Oral sepsis, or what is
commonly called "a dirty mouth," is believed to be the forerunner
of much chronic disease, resulting in disablement and
premature death. The course of all diseases may be influenced
by oral conditions, and the presence of oral sepsis is often the
determining factor between death and recovery.
Oral sepsis in children is now regarded as a possible
pre-tubercular state, although no tubercle may appear to be
present. Septic temporary teeth cause infection of the lymphatic
glands, and lower their resisting capacity to tubercle infection.
Thus the bacilli remain and flourish where Nature intended they
should be resisted and killed.
A septic mouth in the adult must ultimately result in
lowered resistance and the possibility of tubercle infection. It
follows therefore that proper dental care and adequate education
in dental hygiene for children, will result in a healthy adult
population. Details of treatment carried out during the year
are as follow: —
No. of sessions 26
,, ,, patients 45
Attendances 156
Dentures supplied 8
Filling and scaling 33
Extractions N2O 34
Extractions (local anaesthetic) 72
Extractions 13
Advice 42
Referred 50
Sessions for gas administration 10