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97
"This is the second year that the children attending the
County and Technical vSchools have been inspected and treated
by the dental surgeons, 1,538 being inspected in the schools, a
little larger number than in the previous year. Those children
found to require treatment numbered 897, a smaller number by
81 than in the previous year. The number of children from these
schools actually treated amounted to 443, thirty-two more than
in 1935. Of this number treated the majority were children who
had previously not required any treatment, while a smaller number
were routine cases that had developed small probe size cavities
in other teeth. There is quite a large number of children in the
County Schools whose parents object to treatment or who can
dictate to their parents whether they should have treatment or
not. Of course some go to private dentists. The objectors come
mostly from areas outside Ealing where attendance at the Centres
had not been greatly impressed upon them. These cases often
come later and ask for treatment on account of toothache or
swollen face and then is the opportunity to advise
complete treatment and consent is almost invariably given. The
work carried out was chiefly conservative in character, 831 teeth
being filled. Extractions of the permanent teeth numbered 225.
More than half of these extractions were required for regulation
purposes. Temporary extractions numbered 83. 'Other operations'
consisted of scalings for twenty-seven children and dressings
to gums and permanent teeth for 72 children."
PAYMENTS BY PARENTS.
Payments are required for the various forms of treatment
provided by the School Medical Department, with the exception
of treatment for minor ailments. These are based upon the family
income and are in accordance with scales adopted by the Education
Committee.
In the report for 1935 a note was made of the arrangements
which had been completed with the Hospitals Saving Association
by which that Association became responsible for the payment
of treatment of school children. The arrangements have worked
admirably and have saved the school medical staff an enormous
amount of clerical work and it has been found that they have
been the means of encouraging many parents to join the Association.