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101
Treatment.
The attendance at the School Dental Clinic during the
year 1935 numbered 3,808, and 2,274 individual children
received treatment; this means that on an average each
child made 1.6 visits. Some children need only make one
attendance while others make perhaps three visits to get
their teeth into proper condition.
Sixty clinics were held for gas extractions, and the
anaesthetist administered gas on 1,115 occasions.
The number of teeth extracted was 4,528, a record
number, but this in my humble opinion is a matter of
regret rather than of credit.
As regards fillings, 1,903 were inserted in permanent
teeth and 452 in temporary teeth.
Dental Education.
At the school inspections parents are invited to be
present. I am able on these occasions to give a short talk
on dental matters; sometimes 1 come across a perfect set of
teetli during the course of my inspection, and I am able
to show the parents what Nature intended us all to possess.
During the holiday period, the dental nurse makes
visits to the homes of children who have repeatedly failed
to attend, and often persuades parents to avail themselves
of the services of the dental clinic, and to take a regular
and proper interest in their children's dental welfare.
I understand that in the dental schemes of some
authorities, children who fail to keep their appointments
are ruthlessly dropped from the scheme, and that if later
on they do appear at the Clinic because of acute pain they
are sent away untreated. This in my opinion is a very
improper course. In the first place the child is penalised,
and not the parent, who is the responsible party; secondly
it must be remembered that not all parents are sufficiently
enlightened to appreciate that regular conservative treatment
anticipates and insures against future toothache.
The fact that such parents seek treatment at all is often an
advance, for not so long ago a very large proportion of