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289
The returns for the year show that the attendances, iillings,
patients treated, and other operations have all increased in
number, while extractions show a welcome reduction.
Preventive and Educative Measures.
The dental officers have continued to give talks at the routine
dental inspections, and during the year a large number of
mothers attended these informal lectures.
At the clinics leaflets are given to the children, and those
sent by the Dental Board are particularly helpful and instructive,
especially the latest leaflet " A Story of a Tooth."
The Dental Board of the United Kingdom very kindly sent
films free of charge for exhibition to the children in the schools.
There are many aspects of these films that are extremely instructive
and educational, but in some respects the stories might be
strengthened.
Non-Acceptance of Treatment.
The greatest problem of school dentistry is non-acceptance
of treatment. Everything has been done to popularise dentistry;
improved technique has been adopted, but still the number
refusing treatment is considerable. Efforts are being made to
educate parents, but results are inclined to be disappointing.
The increase of staff, which will enable more frequent inspections
and more rapid calling up for treatment, will undoubtedly in time
bring about a great reduction in the number of refusals.
Thanks are due to the teachers for their co-operation and
support. It is hoped that they will continue to use their influence
to obtain more consents to treatment.
Healthy Dentitions.
The number of children with caries-free dentitions totalled
10,177, which comprised 5,111 children whose teeth were rendered
artificially sound (i.e., those whose treatments were completed)
and 5,066 found to be healthy at the dental inspections. These
figures show that approximately 40 per cent. of the total school
Population of 26,100 was free from dental disease.
Acceptances For Treatment.
Out of 13,250 forms issued at dental inspections 7,155
Parents consented to have treatment at the Council's clinics, i.e.,
54 percent.; private dental treatments totalled 3,843, i.e., 29 per
cent., but the greater part of this total can be considered as