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139
Report of Dental Surgeon.
Mr. C. S. Neame, L.D.S., reports as follows:—
This year another age group has been brought into the routine
inspection, making the age groups which were inspected five years
to 12 years, inclusive. The total number inspected by myself and
my colleague was 12,661, and those who required treatment numbered
8,290. Urgent cases referred by the School Medical Officers
and the Head Teachers numbered 197, these referred to as
Specials.
Details will be found in the following statistical table:—
Table IV. Group V. Dental Defects.
All the children in the routine age groups are inspected once
a year and those requiring treatment are notified to attend the
Dental Clinics. Sometimes inspection at the schools is hampered
by the outbreak of epidemics such as influenza, etc., then a further
visit is made at a later date for the inspection of the absentees.
The work at the Clinics is carried out to give the patients
the very minimum of pain. Gas is given for the extraction of
permanent teeth, with a few exceptions, and also for the extraction
of temporary teeth in the case of nervous children, and deepseated
sepsis. For the extraction of temporary teeth local injection
is used, and ethyl-chloride or freezing in the case of loose or
septic teeth. Great importance is attached to the filling of permanent
teeth, especially the six year molars, and where the cavity
is very sensitive a local injection is used to make it painless. Small
cavities are filled in temporary teeth. An increasing amount of
regulation work is done by judicious extraction in overcrowded
mouths and by' regulation plates. This is very important work,
as it puts the mouth into such a condition that all the teeth are
able to be used as Nature intended, that is with the maximum
efficiency, which means that the health of the child in the future
has every chance, and is not handicapped. Abnormal cases are
sent to Guy's Hospital or the London Hospital, where they can
have necessary X-ray, etc.