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see any reason for a visit to the dentist again so soon. This fact
applies more to those in their last years at school but also to those
at younger ages.
" For all the work carried out at the various Centres 6,117
attendances were made by the children. When a second visit
was made, parents had usually asked for an appointment for further
advice or treatment later in the year. When extractions and
fillings were required, gas was first given and the extractions
completed, then a second visit followed for the fillings. The number
of children visiting the Centres for the first time numbered 1,792.
A very bad dental condition was found in most of the children
attending the new schools, indicating that previous to coming to
Ealing the dental supervision and treatment was of an inferior
character. These cases throw a larger amount of work on the
dentists than the children who had been in Ealing for some years.
" Lectures on dental care were given in the schools when time
could be found. Special interviews with stubborn objectors were
arranged by the dentist at the Centres or at the schools to try to
obtain consent for their children to have treatment. Among certain
parents there still persists a prejudice against treatment, but it
has to be admitted that objections are not so much the result of
ignorance as of indifference/'