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98
It was explained in the last Annual Report that it became necessary in
the autumn of 1930, owing to accumulated arrears of work, to engage the services
of a temporary dental surgeon, and for the time being, only to undertake
extractions likely to necessitate the provision of dentures in cases of
urgent need. The services of the dental surgeon referred to were continued
until 28th January, 1931, and the restriction relating to cases requiring
extractions was removed on 19th January. Except for the first month of the
year, the Hospital has been working under normal conditions, and it is satisfactory
to be able to report that it has been found possible to cope with the
work without further recourse to temporary assistance.
If the year's work as a whole is compared with that of the preceding
year, it will be seen the figures show only slight changes. The total number
of visits is somewhat smaller, the number of visits of mothers referred from
the Welfare Centres shows a gratifying increase; twenty-nine children
received orthodontic treatment as compared with sixteen in 1930, and eightythree
more dentures were fitted; this last figure represents an increase of 14
per cent.
It has been explained in previous reports that orthodontic treatment,
which means literally, treatment to straighten the teeth, consists in the correction
of deformities and mal positions in the teeth and jaws of growing
children. This is carried out gradually by fitting specially constructed
appliances, and the intelligent co-operation of the parents and of the children
themselves is essential to success. The fact that the 29 children who attended
during the year made an average of 9.5 visits each speaks well for the parents'
appreciation of the value of this work.
These deformities often cause other ill-effects than the serious disfigurement
which by itself may easily mar an individual's chances in life.
Mouth breathing with consequent chronic inflammation of the throat,
lassitude and impaired mental vigour are all frequent results of dental deformities
which can be cured or prevented by timely treatment of the kind
here described. It is hoped that this valuable branch of our dental work will
be still further extended.
The increase in the number of dentures made at the Hospital during the
year is explained by the fact that it was decided at the end of December,
1930, to increase the working hours of the dental mechanics from 38½ to 44
hours per week.
Owing to the kindness of the Hon. Arthur Villiers, the services of a
dental hygienist have been made available at the Hospital without cost to the
Council.
A dental hygienist, it should be explained, is a person who, having
undergone a prescribed course of training, is approved by the Ministry of
Health under Section 1 (3) (c) of the Dentists Act, 1921, for the performance
of minor dental work under the personal supervision of a registered dentist.
The approval of the Minister to such an appointment at the Shoreditch
Municipal Dental Hospital was subject to the following conditions:—