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106
It will be noted that each child had on an average 2.05 decayed
permanent teeth. For every 100 secondary school children examined
more than 29 permanent teeth were unsaveable. These figures
compare unfavourably with those obtained as a result of the dental
inspection of children having the benefit of regular examination.
In the Central School, for instance, each child had an average of
1.13 decayed permanent teeth, and for every 100 children examined
only 17 teeth were unsaveable. This greater incidence of dental
caries in secondary school children was to be expected, as many of
them had received no dental attention for three to six years. Moreover
a study of the bare figures does not reveal the real difference
in the dental condition of these groups of children. In the case of
the Central School children most of the fillings required were small
and could be inserted quickly, whereas the cavities in the teeth of
the secondary school children were generally large and treatment
necessitated the expenditure of much more time. This is shewn in
the case of the Grammar School boys by the fact that 77 per cent,
of the 671 fillings required linings to protect the pulps of the teeth
from thermal shock. The better condition of the secondary school
girls as compared with the boys will further be noted, 68 per cent,
of the girls requiring treatment, 84 per cent, of the Grammar School
boys, and 82 per cent, of the boys attending the Technical School.
Each boy examined had on an average nearly twice as many carious
permanent teeth as each girl. The greater interest taken by the
girls in the cleanliness of their teeth was noticeable. The number of
girls who stated they never failed to brush their teeth each day was
75 per cent., and the number of boys 53 per cent. The condition
of the children's teeth was carefully noted during inspection, and
these percentages are probably fairly accurate. Considerably more
girls than boys accepted the treatment offered them, the figures
being 67.6 per cent, acceptances in the case of the girls as compared
with 51.9 per cent, for the boys. Probably the simplest and surest
method of increasing the number of acceptances is to persuade
children to brush their teeth regularly. If a boy does not take
sufficient interest in his teeth to keep them clean and free from stain
by this means, it is unlikely that he will present himself regularly
for conservative dental treatment.
The dental condition of elementary school entrants remains
unsatisfactory, only 17 per cent, of those inspected during the year
being naturally fit with all teeth present. There is a mass of evidence
which supports the view that dental caries is mainly due to causes
external to the tooth, namely the eating to excess of starchy and
sugary foods requiring little or no mastication. Until this view is
generally accepted, and the necessary alterations made in the diet