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104
Dental Defects.
I would especially direct attention to Mr. Latham's exceedingly
interesting report. The complete year's working
of a whole-time dentist is already giving demonstrable
benefit to the health of the school child.
As the public now so fully appreciate, dental sepsis
frequently is the underlying cause of much ill-health. If
this is true in the adult, how much more is it so in the
growing child.
It is very pleasing to note how readily the parents
bring their children for treatment, and the habit that is
being created in the children to visit the dentist periodically.
Where gross sepsis was once common at the routine
medical inspection, it is to-day a rare occurrence.
SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
Report of the School Dental Surgeon for 1930.
Inspection.
During 1930 each elementary school in the Borough
was visited, and 5,505 children from 3 to 16 years of age
received the benefit of dental examination.
In 1929, the total number of scholars examined in the
schools was 4,228, and of these 63 per cent. were in obvious
need of attention. In 1930, an additional 1,277 children
were inspected, but only 52 per cent. were referred for
treatment. From these percentages it would appear that
the dental condition of elementary school children in
Bromley is improving.
Propaganda.
The object of public health work is prevention rather
than treatment, and to this end we have carried out propaganda
work on every suitable occasion. The parents are
always invited to attend at school dental inspections, and
often as many as fifty parents and friends have been present.
Lectures and demonstrations are given, questions
are invited, and any suggestions for the improvement of
the Dental Service are carefully considered. This year
the parents have been allowed to be present in the surgery