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This inevitably makes the number referred for treatment correspondingly
high and in 1934 was 81.3% of those inspected.
That such a policy is a sound one may be ascertained from
the number of teeth that were saved. The ratio of extractions
to fillings in permanent teeth in Finchley for the year under
review is 1:5.72, whereas the average ratio for all areas
(1933 figures) is 1:2. The figures include extractions for
irregularities.
Orthodontia.
No regulation by appliance is undertaken at the clinic.
Where, however, the irregularity is caused or threatened
by overcrowding, the condition is relieved by extraction, and
many good results are obtained in this way. There are,
nevertheless, a considerable number of irregular dentitions
that can only be treated by appliance. Parents in these cases
are advised to attend their private practitioner or, failing
that, to attend one of the Dental Hospitals. Many of these
are unable to follow this advice because of the expense incurred
by the frequent visits which the effective operation
of an orthodontic appliance involves. Regrettable as this
is, it would be unwise to attempt regulation by appliance at
the clinic, without additional assistance, because the surgery
time spent in so doing would be at the expense of the more
essential and universally needed conservative work.
Root Canals.
Root canals are only treated at the clinic in cases of
incisor teeth—usually those devitalised by an accidental blow
which fractures the tooth. These are preserved that the space
and root may be retained in a healthy condition for subsequent
crowning.
Silver Nitrate.
The application of silver nitrate is not generally resorted
to, but in selected shallow cavities, where the arrest of caries
may reasonably be expected to occur, silver nitrate is used.
Specials.
The special cases are only so in the sense that they are
not routine. They consist of widely divergent types and
include those that have refused treatment at routine inspec-
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