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95
Twenty-four visits of inspection were made at the
various schools and an average of 195 scholars were
examined at each inspection.
Treatment.
Of those children who were inspected during the year
and were referred for treatment, 91 per cent, attended and
were treated. This seems a very good percentage of
attendance. The 9 per cent, who do not attend are made
up to a great extent of the same children every year. On
looking at their cards in the office all one can see is a
list of dates running back several years, and against each
date the words " failed to attend." The Dental Nurse
made 989 visits during the year, very many of them to
the same people as last year and previous years. We do
manage to persuade a few, sometimes it is through the
efforts of the Dental Nurse and sometimes through the
form master at school.
The attendances at the Clinic were 3,992 this year
as compared with 3,827 in 1932, that is a little over 10
per session. This allows each child roughly 15 minutes
in the chair at each visit.
Each child has given on an average 1.7 visits, that is
about 25 minutes actual treatment. It must be
remembered that although the attendances increase, the
time allotted for treatment remains constant, hence the
more children, the less treatment per child. Gas was
administered on 1,103 occasions, a record number since
there has been a full-time dental service.
As regards the office side of the Dental Clinic, it may
be of interest to note that 7,319 appointments were sent
out- in order to secure the 3,992 actual attendances, that is
54.5 per cent, of the appointments made are kept, or on
an average each child requires two notices.
Other Services.
On Saturday mornings we hold a session for
Maternity and Child Welfare patients. Ninety infants
and 35 mothers attended. The bulk of the work consists
of gas extractions, a certain number of fillings and
especially scalings. No artificial teeth work is undertaken.