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34
REPORT ON THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE,
1939.
Inspection.
This year the circuit of schools for inspection is not
complete. Four schools have not received an inspection
at all, and four schools have been inspected only so far
as conditions and attendances have allowed. It is found
that a school inspection takes two or three times as long
to complete under present conditions owing to the
attendance being- limited at any given time. The
number of children examined for dental defects was
3,619, and of these 58 per cent. required treatment. It
will be interesting to see what effect war conditions have
on children's teeth; in the last war many school dentists
reported a marked improvement, possibly owing to
plainer food and less sugar.
Treatment.
During the year 4,157 attendances were made for
treatment, and 2,045 children received all necessary
treatment.
The Dental Clinic did not receive patients in
September, but in October it was found possible to make
a start again, although under difficulties as regards spate
and adequate lighting, and 135 attendances were
recorded. These patients consisted of a certain number
of school children left over since the holidays, and a
large number of emergency cases. It will be remembers
that during the first month or so of the war almost all
hospitals and institutions were closed to out-patients
and there was literally nowhere for many of our
patients to receive treatment.
In November and December, working conditions
became easier, and all sessions were well attended and
fully occupied, although the sessions at Princes Plain
Clinic were reduced from 12 to 8 per month.
At the present time the clinic is working in a fairly
normal manner, with the exception of the gas clinics.
In ordinary times we treat about twenty children at each
gas session and this means that at least twenty adults