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288
At the routine inspections the dental officers gave talks to parents
at the end of the inspections. During the year 19 talks were given
and 529 mothers attended. The health visitors have rendered great
assistance in carrying out home visitations.
Inspection and Treatment of Special Schools
During the year St. Luke's Special School lor Partially Sighted
Children, St. Giles' School, Addington and St. Christopher's Special
School were inspected. The children attending the Grangewood
Centre were also examined. The acceptance rate for those referred
for treatment was as follows: St. Luke's School, 52.9 per cent;
St. Giles' P.D. School, 75.4 per cent.; St. Christopher's, 59.6 per
cent., and Grangewood Occupation Centre, 52.2 per cent.
The children attending these schools have their mid-day meal
at the school and facilities are provided for the brushing of teeth
particularly after eating. The present method of hanging up the
toothbrush to dry after use in a position where it is exposed to dirt
and dust is not very satisfactory.
Dental Treatment and School Attendance.
When the dental officer advises as part of the subsequent treatment
that the child should not go back to school to complete that
school session, but should either remain at the clinic or return to
his home, an attendance mark is allowed for that session.
In order that the head teacher may know that this advice has
been given if a child does not return to complete the session a
distinguishing mark is made on the appointment card which the
child can show to the teacher at the next attendance. This procedure
applies to the morning or afternoon session but not to both
Orthodontic Treatment.
The total number of children treated since the inception of the
scheme in 1931 is 874. Of this total, 637 have been treated by
special appliances and 237 by extraction of permanent teeth. The
number of such teeth extracted for the purpose of relieving overcrowding
was 65. The sessions devoted to orthodontia totalled 47
as compared with 43 in 1936. Extra verbal appointments reached
a total of 1,620, as against 1,501 in 1936.
Out of 17,747 children examined 585 or 3.2 per cent. were
found to be suffering from malocclusion. It would, of course, be
impossible to treat such a number and only those with marked
deformity have been referred for treatment. The number of forms
issued to parents was 248. During the year 361 removable and two
fixed appliances were fitted.