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Because inherent weaknesses in the structure of teeth
which predispose to caries so often become manifest within
a few years of the eruption of the teeth, it is a matter of
great moment to these scholars that defects should be discovered
and treated at an early stage while the teeth are
still saveable.
Many of the pupils attending the secondary schools are
there by virtue of scholarships, and it has seemed a little unfortunate
that their scholastic achievements should deprive
them of a service available to the elementary school children.
This new development is therefore the cause of much satisfaction
to parents, many of whom are ready to appreciate
the value of a facility at a nominal cost to themselves, and
others who like to be informed of any dental defect in their
children so that they can take them to their family practitioner
for early treatment.
Inspection revealed that 81% required treatment and of
these just over half were treated at the clinic. It was found
that the average treatment required for those who attended
was 3.31 fillings and .71 extractions as compared with 1.7
fillings and 2.28 extractions in elementary school children.
The extractions in young childlren are mainly from the temporary
dentitions, while those in older children are permanent
teeth. The extra fillings required in older children are due, not
alone to the fact that a number of these scholars had not
had dental treatment for several years, but to the fact that
they have more permanent teeth subject to the vicissitudes
of the mouth for a great number of years.
As filling teeth is the great time absorber, it may be
stated with fair accuracy that it takes twice as long to render
sound the dental defects of secondary than of elementary
school children. In actual practice the treatment has worked
most smoothly.
The pupils are excellent at keeping appointments. This
dependability makes it practicable to space appointments as
required in order to complete two instead of a single item at
each attendance, enabling the time at the clinic to be utilised
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