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The most important thing in teaching dental propaganda is to
interest parents, and it is felt that if parents were invited to see the
demonstration it would help considerably in increasing the consents
to treatment.
The teachers and dental officers have continued their efforts to
educate parents and children. The dental officers have given talks
to parents at the inspection of the five-and-six-year groups and it is
very satisfactory to note that 565 mothers attended.
In connection with this propaganda the health visitors have
interviewed many parents who had refused treatment, and the
results obtained have been encouraging.
THE ORTHODONTIC SERVICE.
The existence of perfect function of the jaws and teeth is
imperative to general health, and a scheme which has for its object
the correction of dental deformities should always have a place in
the service of dental treatment for school children, as it is true
preventive work.
The aims of orthodontic treatment are to correct aberrations
of growth in jaw formation and to improve the aesthetic appearance.
Both these aims are important to the health of the child, whether
it be for treatment of the malformation of the jaws or for the
cosmetic effect. The treatment of abnormally developed jaws is
primarily important, and it is hardly necessary to emphasise that
the restoration of perfect harmony of the facial characteristics plays
a great part psychologically on the social and personal problems of
a child's life.
The parents of school children are taking a great interest in
the scheme, and many attend for advice immediately dental defects
are seen in the child. With this type of parent it is reasonable to
expect co-operation and a successful conclusion to treatment.
Failures may be traced to the lack of this indispensable co-operation
between parent and dental surgeon.
A large number of cases treated have been those of mouthbreathing,
and in most instances this has been of dental origin.
Many of these mouth-breathers have been supplied with oral screens
and special lip exercisers to improve the approximation of the lips
and to encourage normal breathing, and sometimes this treatment
runs concomitantly with the wearing of special appliances.