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treatment for incisor teeth was done for six children. One case
of hypertrophied gum tissue was successfully treated by incision.
Twenty children were referred for special treatment to dental
hospitals in London.
"It is satisfactory to note that the extractions of permanent
teeth have been considerably reduced this year : 924 were removed
as against 1,814 in the year 1930, and 1,637 in the year 1928. A
large number were removed for the purpose of regulating irregularities
of the permanent dentition.
"In the younger children, those five to eight years old, a
great number of temporary teeth were removed. Still, the number
is smaller than that of the previous year, which seems to indicate
that decay is not so extensive as formerly. But taking it all round,
from general observation, there has been a slight decrease in the
percentage of decay in the temporary teeth and a slight
increase in the percentage of decay in the permanent dentition.
The number of temporary teeth extracted totalled 11,200 as
against 12,205 in the year 1930.
"Dental treatment for the pre-school child was commenced
in the year 1927 and during that year 68 of these children were
referred to the dentist. The number actually treated was 30.
Since that time there has been a steady increase in the number of
children treated. It appears that the majority of mothers came on
their own initiative specially to seek advice and treatment and the
others were advised by the Medical Officers at the Health Centres
to avail themselves of treatment. In time a greater number still
will be treated. Altogether 249 of these children were treated in
the year. Fillings to the number of 431 were applied and the
number of extractions totalled 724. To complete this work 421
attendances were made during the year.
"The dental treatment of expectant and nursing mothers
was inaugurated five years ago. In the first year 36 attended,
in the second and third years 73 and 87 respectively received
treatment, and in 1930 the number had increased to 149. In the
year under review 270 cases were treated, 203 of these being
expectant and 67 nursing mothers. The number of attendances
made by these mothers during the year amounted to 1,026.