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130
homes. A few sent word to say they would have the matter
attended to, but practically 35 per cent, ignored the question.
Of those who attended, 7 decided to take the child to their
own dentist, and the others wished for the treatment to be
carried out at the Clinic.
In practically all the cases the parents had to be convinced
by the doctor that the child had any "permanent"
teeth. It was urged that they were all "milk teeth" and
"would soon be coming out." After they had been convinced
on that point they not infrequently insisted that the
teeth in question were sound—the truth being that in the
majority of cases the decay is so slight that it can only be
detected by the aid of the mirror and probe. I surmise that
many of the 35 per cent, who ignored the letter were influenced
by some such consideration and that it was not all
simple parental indifference.
At to treatment. As stated above, in most cases the decay
was so slight that the "stopping" caused no pain whatever,
and the children have behaved splendidly. In one or two
cases only did the child show any alarm, and in these it was
merely nervousness, which was easily overcome.
The success and smooth working of the Clinic has
been almost entirely due to the keen interest Mr. Heydon has
taken in the work, and especially to his kindness and tact in
dealing with the children, by which he has secured their
confidence.