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271
Other operations totalled 2,154, which is slightly more than
last year. These operations include root dressings, scalings, gum
treatments, prophylactic treatments, silver nitrate applications,
temporary fillings of zinc oxide, sedative dressings for pulp
preservation and pulp cappings.
The Orthodontic Clinic is still making progress, and 68 cases
were completed during the year.
Summary of school children inspected and treated during
the year:—
Patients examined 19,903 Patients treated 7,773
Attendances 13,444 Fillings 5,624
Extractions 13.447 "Gas" cases 2,125
Other operations 2,154 Locals 3,881
Sessions held-
Inspection 109 Treatment 1,087
Administration 20 Orthodontia 42
Gas administrations by Total sessions 1,396
dental surgeons) 93
Gas administrations medical officers) ... 44
Conservative Treatment.
All filling work is carried out whenever possible before the
extractions are completed. Silver and copper amalgam is used in
posterior teeth, and synthetic porcelain in anterior cavities.
The use of copper amalgam in school dentistry has been the
subject of a good deal of criticism, but if the correct technique
is adopted it will, in certain cases, withstand the action of caries
to a greater extent than silver alloy. Copper amalgam should
not be used when it is obvious that silver amalgam would prove a
more serviceable filling.
In anterior teeth in which the pulps have suffered traumatic
injury, and in exposures produced by dental caries, root canal
treatments have been undertaken in a number of cases.
Sensitive teeth which require conservative treatment are
anaesthetised by local or interosseous injections.
Deciduous Teeth.
The number of temporary teeth extracted during the year is
considerably fewer than in 1932.