View report page

This shows encouraging progress in one of the most important
Health Services of the Borough, despite the fact that it is understaffed
(1 Dental Officer to 20,000 children), and shows what an
enormous benefit would accrue to the children if the Dental Service
was fully staffed.
Extractions and fillings have been rendered practically painless.
A 2 per cent, solution of novocaine is used in ordinary extractions
of temporary and permanent teeth, and nitrous-oxide
gas or ethyl-chloride (local) for those which are septic and where
an injection is contra-indicated. Teeth both temporary and permanent
are filled when possible in order to prolong their life and
to ensure the maximum masticating surface to the child.
The age groups to be inspected in 1928 will be those from
5 to 9 years inclusive.
A large number of parents show great ignorance of dental
hygiene. An enormous amount of good could be done by propaganda
and lectures—educating them in the importance of dental
matters. This could be done if help were given by the appointment
of two more Dental Officers. There is great need for this in the
Borough, for instance, the number of cases untreated by December
31st, 1927, was 600. These cases have to be seen before the
routine cases for 1928 can be commenced, which greatly hampers
the work for the year.
It is with pleasure that I record the fact that at last the Dental
Clinic has been moved from its unhealthy quarters at the Town
Hall to the salubrious and roomy quarters at Durban House.