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272
While admitting that the conservative treatment of permanent
teeth is of paramount importance in school dentistry, especially
under present conditions when there is so much work to be done
for the permanent dentition, it is nevertheless unfortunate that the
time available for restoring temporary teeth to a healthy condition
is so restricted. In this effort of mass concentration on the
permanent teeth the value and function of deciduous dentition
must not be lost sight of. If the premature extraction of the
temporary molars produced only the minor disability of the
forward movement of the six-year-old molars, it would be justifiable
to adopt such a line of treatment, but the other functions of
the first teeth, those of speech, deglutition, digestion, and development
of the jaws and permanent teeth, must be remembered.
Persistent Refusals.
The work of the Clinic is upset considerably bv applications
for urgent treatment on account of toothache in children whose
parents have previously refused treatment advised. If after the
third inspection parents who have had a special warning notice,
and having received a personal visit from the school nurse, do
not realise the value of dental treatment, the only effective way of
dealing with them is to circularise the head teachers of the schools
which the children attend with the names of such children, so
that the teacher will have authority to refuse to give an emergency
form. If parents realise that casual treatment cannot be obtained
after refusing routine treatment it will, at least, serve as useful
propaganda to encourage others to accept treatment. This
procedure is now being adopted.
Acceptances.
The number of acceptances for Clinic treatment was 8,121,
or 54.7 per cent. of those referred for treatment. Parents of 3,891
children, i.e., 26.2 per cent., promised to obtain private treatment,
but, unfortunately, in many cases this is merely evasion.
The number of "no decision" forms was 2,548, i.e., 17.2 per
cent., and the definite refusals 285, i.e., 1.9 per cent.
The chief causes of non-acceptance of treatment are: (a)
infrequent inspections; (b) inspecting undulv large numbers or
children during each session; (c) indifference; and (d) fear of
dental treatment.