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42
indifference of many parents, and social difficulties such as the
control of diet and environment. Dental caries is very prevalent
among school children of the present day, but it should be remembered
that most cases of decay, if treated in time, will mean saving
a tooth which, if left without skilled treatment is surely doomed
to extraction. If the case is one involving a permanent tooth there
is no natural replacement, and if a temporary tooth then a detrimental
effect upon the permanent teeth is usually resultant.
A happv feature of the work for the year in Barking is the
increase in the number of permanent fillings. It cannot be too
strongly urged that the wholesale sacrifice of permanent teeth does
not prove that a service is an economic or a professional success,
and obviously only permanent teeth that present at the time of
their examination a menace to the health and comfort of the patient
should be removed.
*!
During the latter part of the year many cases of misplaced
teeth and mal-developed jaws have been inspected. In the past
it has been customary to refer such cases to the London Hospital.
Such procedure is contra-indicated for the following reasons:—
1. Travelling expenses are incurred by the parents while the
patient attends the hospital on the numerous visits necessary
for each case.
2. Loss of school time.
3 Adequate treatment can be carried out at the Clinic where
the patient can be constantly under observation with
greater convenience.
I have to report that several cases are now under treatment
and show satisfactory progress.
Jaw malformation and misplacement of teeth can be the
result of many different causes, most of which are preventable by
proper parental control and supervision of the child.