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247
Treatment.
The parents of the 12,049 children, found at routine inspections
to require treatment, were notified and advised to obtain
treatment either privately or at the Dental Clinic. 6,733 consents
requesting clinic treatment were returned—65.9% as against 57.1%
in 1929, 54.8% in 1928, 52.6% in 1927. Of the above number
6,187 received treatment before the close of the year—91%.
1928. 1929. 1930.
Number of children requiring
treatment 9516 8850 12049
Number of consents to clinic 5219—54.8% 4862—57.1% 6733—55.9%
Number of private treatments
promised 1401—14.7% 1813—18.4% 2596—21.5%
Number of " no decision," i.e.,
forms not returned 1994—20.9% 1898—21.4% 2368—19.6%
Number of definite refusals 902— 9.6% 277— 3.1% 352— 3.0%
The above figures show that the improvement, noted last year,
has continued, and that the number of definite refusals and forms
not returned has been reduced from 30.5% in 1928 to 22.6% in
1930.
There has been a gradual increase in the number Of promises
to obtain private treatment, and it may well be that the promise is
in some instances an evasion. In order to estimate the value of
the promise to obtain private treatment, opportunity was taken
of re-inspection to note the condition of children who had been
promised private treatment in 1929. There were 1,813 promises
of treatment during 1929, and of that number 1,720 were
re-inspected during 1930, only 20.7% were found to require no
further treatment. When this figure is compared with the 61%
healthy children who had completed clinic treatment it is clear
that little private treatment had been obtained.
"Special Cases."
1,634 "special" cases were treated in addition to routine
children. These comprised (a) cases requiring treatment prior to
the operation for the removal of tonsils and adenoids, (b) cases
referred by the School Medical Officers, (c) cases referred by the
Tuberculosis Officer, (d) "casuals" referred by head teachers as
needing treatment for acute conditions; the latter group and many
01 (a) being chiefly those who had previously refused treatment.
\ portion of two sessions per week, 9-10 o'clock Mondays, 2-3