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It is very gratifying that such a system has worked extremely
well, and that the dental surgeons have been able to treat all types
of cases accepting treatment.
The time devoted to orthodontia is restricted to one session
per week, which is shared by two dental surgeons. With so little
time for this work it is necessary to leave these sessions as free as
possible for new cases, or cases under treatment which require
new impressions for further appliances. This is achieved by
giving verbal appointments for those cases requiring minor
ad justments of appliances after the work of the routine sessions is
completed.
It is essential to prevent treatment of minor irregularities
wasting the time of orthodontic sessions, which should be devoted
to the treatment of more marked deformities. Many minor cases
of irregularity correct themselves, and they should be eliminated
beforehand to prevent congestion.
It has been the practice before starting treatment to find out
exactly the parents' attitude. It is useless to attempt orthodontia
for a child unless the parent is really concerned about the
deformity and is likely to appreciate treatment and to co-operate
with the dental surgeon. In this work it is essential that the
parent should be acquainted with the importance and nature of
treatment, and also approximately the amount of time required to
complete it.
Prevention of Malocclusion starts in the very early days of a
child's life, and schemes which provide treatment for the preschool
child offer the dental surgeon a unique opportunity for
preventive work. Cases may be observed at the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres of the perverted action of the muscles,
which, if untreated, will undoubtedly produce deformity later in
the child's life. Particularly is this seen in the maldevelopmentof
the jaws, in mouth breathing and bad sucking habits, and sometimes
in an abnormally large frsenum labium. These cases, when
observed, may be referred for treatment at a subsequent and more
suitable time.
Review of Work Done.
The total number of cases treated since the new scheme was
commenced was 465, of which 331 have been treated with the ai
of appliances, and 134 by extraction only.