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73
The number of special cases is large, and, since the aim of
the systematic routine inspection, treatment and re-inspection is
to gradually reduce dental defects to a minimum and to finally
bring under dental supervision the whole of the scholars of all
ages, it will be necessary to give primary consideration to this
routine work, except in urgent cases, where teeth and mouths are
in such a condition as to interfere with education or attendance
at school.
Of the 5,696 children referred for treatment, only 3,245, or
57 per cent., availed themselves of the opportunity afforded at the
Dental Clinic, but the percentage of "consents" is steadily rising.
An increase in the work of following up cases and advising
parents, together with the education of the children in oral
hygiene, would undoubtedly lead to a further reduction in the
number who fail to attend for treatment, and the appointment of
a second School Nurse, and also a Clerk, in the dental department
would make this possible. The services of the School Nurse
have been invaluable, and much time and trouble have been saved
as a result of her assistance in the management of the children,
both at the Dental Clinic and at the Schools, in the making of
appointments and other clerical work, and in assisting during the
carrying out of treatment, but she has no time for visiting even
urgent cases.
Inspection has shown the extreme urgency for commencing
treatment at as early an age as possible. Many children of six
years of age, who were examined during the past year, had
decayed permanent teeth which were unsavable, while it was not
at all uncommon to meet with children of this age whose temporary
teeth were all hopelessly decayed and septic. An instance
of the early occurrence of dental decay was afforded by a case
sent to the Dental Clinic from the Maternity and Child Welfare
Centre—an infant, age 14 months, with four septic temporary
incisor roots in the upper jaw; these had ulcerated through the
gum and were causing acute inflammation and great pain; the
roots were extracted and the inflammatory condition subsided.
Several other children under school age, and sent from the Maternity
and Child Welfare Centre, have been treated. The excellent
advice with regard to infant diet and oral hygiene, which is given