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104
the barest essentials; and in this case I have sacrificed the
temporary teeth as being of less importance than the
permanent ones. However, there is a standard below
which it is unprofitable to fall. If decay is passed over
untreated no time is really saved in the end, as sooner or
later that neglected tooth gives trouble and the child
appears at the clinic with toothache, and then a tooth
which could have been saved for useful mastication has to
be extracted.
If we try to work on a basis of annual inspection and
treatment, we must treat each child sufficiently well to
keep him free of decay and pain for the year.
Again this year as in 1933, it was impossible to inspect
and treat every scholar requiring attention within the
year; and on 31st December, 1934, there were 595
children outstanding.
Visiting.
The Dental Nurse made 684 home visits during the
year to inquire into cases where there was non-attendance
over a long period. In some cases attendance is secured,
but a large number of these cases are quite unsatisfactory;
the children and their parents being difficult in other
matters besides dental attention, e.g., school attendancecleanliness.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
Ninety-four infants, aged two to five years, attended
the clinic for treatment, and thirty-five mothers. As
regards the adults, no denture work is undertaken; the
bulk of the work consists of scaling and cleaning followed
by gas extractions.
Regulation of Misplaced Teeth.
There were 90 attendances for regulation work.
Regulation plates are made at the parents' entire expense
—7s. 6d. per plate.
Propaganda.
Besides the demonstrations at the schools at the time
of our inspection, one afternoon was devoted to a talk to
parents in the school clinic hall; the subject being that
most important tooth—" The six year Molar."