View report page

112
During the past year, talks have been given to parents'
Associations and to the children, also each child who attends the
Clinics for treatment is given a small booklet telling in simple
language " The Story of a Tooth." It explains how a small cavity
appears, how the tooth can be saved and the dire results if the
little hole is neglected. Explanatory leaflets are also sent out with
every notification for treatment. Education of any kind is slow
and it is therefore of interest to note that the number of fillings
in permanent teeth this year is almost double that of the previous
year. The number of permanent teeth extracted has also been
rcduced by one-third, the figures being 2,771 permanent fillings
and 747 permanent teeth extracted. Included in this last figure
are 45 teeth extracted for regulation purposes. These figures,
although not yet high enough, give us hope for the future and
there are already indications that this improvement is being more
than maintained in the year just starting.
The number of temporary teeth extracted during the year
was 8,122 and the number of anaesthetics given was 1,399.
There has been a noticeable increase in the interest taken by
parents in orthodontic work. Thirty appliances were supplied
and the more difficult and prolonged cases were referred to hospital
for treatment.
During the year, 27 sessions were devoted to the treatment of
patients in Harts Sanatorium. 86 Social Welfare patients were
also seen.
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.
Details of the dental work carried out in the Maternity and
Child Welfare Centres are shown in the Health Section of the report.
Two sessions a week are devoted to these patients, who are
referred by the Medical Officers of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Clinics and they are in general cases of acute pain or discomfort.
The question of conservative treatment does not therefore arise,
although fillings have been inserted wherever possible. Extractions
of temporary and permanent teeth are done under gas or
local anaesthesia. Dentures were provided where necessary.
Mothers and babies have quite rightly been termed one of the
priority classes for dental treatment and plans have accordingly
been made to provide a comprehensive service for them. This,