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157
Inspections.
The number of children on the register at Primary and
Secondary Schools within the Borough at the close of 1947 was
26,191. Including an additional 552 free-place scholars at nonmaintained
schools this represents a sum total of 26,743 children.
Of these, 18,489 were inspected and 9,728 (52.6 per cent.)
referred for treatment, compared with 22,020 inspected and 12,046
(54.7 per cent.) referred in 1946.
This further decline of 2.1 per cent. in the number requiring
treatment, added to the figure of 6.9 per cent. obtained last year,
represents a substantial achievement in dealing with war-time
arrears, and when compared with the figure of 76 per cent. requiring
treatment in 1937, illustrates clearly the beneficial effect of
more frequent inspection and treatment.
As mentioned in last year's report there has been a noticeable
improvement in the calcification of the teeth of those entering
school, and it would seem reasonable to conclude that the increased
ante-natal care for mothers, and improved nutrition and
hygiene for infants, is beginning to pay a dividend. Unfortunately
there is as yet little evidence in support of the supposition that
this will lead automatically to any decrease in the incidence of
caries in the permanent dentition.
Owing to insufficient staff 16 departments (Primary and
Secondary) comprising approximately 4,554 children, received no
routine inspection during the year.
The figures obtained from school inspections were as
follows:-
Acceptance of Treatment 72.9%
Refused Treatment 11.8%
Forms not Returned 15.3%
Compared with the previous year these results indicate a
rise of 2.9 per cent. in the acceptance rate, with a corresponding
decrease in the two remaining categories. In view of the fact
that the success of any dental scheme bears a definite relationship
to the regularity with which treatment is accepted, the present
increase may be regarded as worthy of note.