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164
School inspection is carried out so that every child under 12
years of age in the current year is examined once per annum.
Sometimes it happens that a school is suffering from an epidemic
such as measles or influenza when a high proportion are absent,
in these cases it is arranged that another session is devoted to
inspection of absentees in 2 or 3 months time. A child who is
charted with a sound mouth has no sign of caries or oral sepsis,
the tiniest cavity in both permanent and temporary teeth is put
down for filling. During the period of inspection is a very good
time for short personal talks with the children, those with dirty
mouths, etc., this can be done in such a way that the children
waiting can hear what is said, and, it is hoped, can benefit from
it. These little chats doubtless do a great deal of good and tend
to inspire confidence.
The percentage of children with sound mouths has risen from
23 per cent in 1923 to 32.4 per cent. in 1930, the highest it has
ever been in the County Borough of East Ham. The following

All work at the Dental Clinic is so performed that pain is
almost non-existent, except for the slight pin-prick of the syringe
needle and this can be made very slight if the finest pointed
needle is used, and it is inserted carefully in the gum. An
anaesthetic is used for all extractions either by local injection,
where there is no apparent sepsis present, or by nitrous-oxide
(gas) chiefly in the case of abscessed permanent teeth and other
septic conditions, and also ethyl-chloride is used for freezing the
gums in the case of loose or septic temporary teeth. A very important
part of the work is the filling of permanent teeth with