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274
This table shows that the incidence of dental caries was greater
in the five and six-year-old entrant girls than in the boys. In the
nine-year-old groups there were 43 per cent. healthy, but with the
eruption of more teeth the percentage of healthy dentitions declined
until the fifteenth year is reached, when an improvement occurred.
Treatment.
The aggregate of the treatment sessions was 1,148; this is an
increase of 23 sessions on the previous year's total. The total number
of children treated during the past year was 7,116, compared
with 7,300 in 1934. The total number of fillings in permanent
teeth was 5,712, as against 5,723 in 1934, and fillings in temporary
teeth numbered 336 as against 548 in 1934. The gross total of
fillings was 6,048 compared with 6,271 in 1934. This similarity
suggests that the present staff has practically reached the highwater-mark
of fillings attainable.
The extraction of permanent teeth increased from 2,005 in
1934 to 2,307 in 1935. It is difficult to reduce the number of
extractions while inspections are held at 18-months intervals, and
the same reason applies to the increase in extraction of temporary
teeth from 9,865 in 1934 to 10,130 in 1935.
The number of fillings per 100 children treated increased from
78 in 1934 to 80 in 1935. It is a matter for satisfaction that conservative
treatment has increased so much during the last few years.
In 1930 permanent fillings totalled 32 per 100 children treated, so
that the figures for 1935 represent a great improvement. The
extraction of permanent teeth per 100 children treated was 32,
which is slightly more than in 1934, when the percentage was 28.
In addition to permanent fillings a large number of teeth have
been temporarily filled with zinc oxide to preserve the vitality of
the pulp. Other conservative measurers included 35 root canal treatments,
also 61 gum treatments, 230 scalings and prophylactic
cleanings, 37 applications of silver nitrate and 13 dressings in
temporary teeth. Several exposed nerves have been capped, and
it is gratifying to report that after a long period of observation the
teeth have responded to the usual vitality tests.
Local anaesthesia was administered on 3,447 occasions not only
for extraction of teeth hut also for the preparation of painful
cavities. In the case of multiple extractions nitrous oxide is
invariably given, and 1,904 administrations were carried out.