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the charge on a flat-rate basis. The charge to the patient was
10s. for complete treatment, in which is included all mechanic's
charges, but it was found this amount did not cover the entire
costs, and so the charge was raised to 12s. 6d. per case.
The scheme has been subjected to rigid economy, and the
new charge is the lowest upon which an orthodontic scheme ran
be efficiently conducted. The system of buying the Badcock
screws direct and supplying them to the mechanic has been found
the best one to adopt. These screws will last for at least three
cases. A careful check is kept on the supply and return of each
screw.
In addition to the charge patients are asked to leave a deposit
for a lip exerciser and Badcock screw spanner. These payments
are refunded when treatment is completed and are not included in
the above total. Unless a deposit is asked the children are liable
to become careless and lose these exercisers and spanners.
Summary of Cases Treated or Undergoing Treatment.
Number of cases treated by fixed or removable
appliances 219
Number of cases treated by extraction only—no
appliance being necessary 66
Total number treated 285
Number of sessions devoted to orthodontic treatment
40
Operations for removal of abnormal frænum labii 10
Number of orthodontic attendances : routine
appointments 422
Extra verbal appointments seen after routine
sessions 886
1,308
Types of Cases Treated.
Some deformities are quite common in the elementary school
child. Irregularities produced from thumb sucking, supermumerary
teeth, retention of temporary teeth and attached
frænum lingure are an every-day occurrence in school dentistry.
Open bite and pre-normal occlusion are not observed with any
great frequency. The most common cases we have to treat are
those of post-normal occlusion, close bite, malposition of individual
teeth and general overcrowding.