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The object of dental treatment in the school clinic is
that the mouths of school children may, by suitable treatment
and instruction in prophylaxis, attain a high standard
of efficiency, viz., the mouth should be healthy and regular
in appearance and able to carry out the normal functions
associated with those of the teeth. Observance of these
principles will be followed by a diminution in the number of
absentees from school from toothache or other dental disease,
and there will also be an improvement in the capacity of the
children for acquiring the learning imparted to them.
Having mentioned the objects and value of school dentistry,
it will not be out of place to briefly expound upon the
causes and dangers of dental disease.
Dental disease is primarily due to dental caries—that is,
decay of the teeth. Many theories have been put forward
to explain dental caries, but the most important factors
causing this disease are heredity, constipation, lack of oral
hygiene, and improper infantile feeding. Fevers and phthisis
have also a ruinous action upon the teeth. Dr. Sim Wallace
says : "It is now universally admitted that dental caries
results directly from the fermentation of carbo-hydrates in
the crevices of, or between teeth, or more generally in such
situations as carbo-hydrates are liable to lodge unduly and
permit fermentation." Accordingly food of a fibrous nature
is more beneficial than that of a farinaceous nature.
The affections arising from advanced dental diseases are
many. A long and interesting list of diseases has been
given by Sir G. Newman in his report for 1913, dental caries
being one of the chief causes and in many the sole cause.
A few more of the common ones may be stated, such as
Indigestion, due to incomplete mastication; Gastritis, due
to swallowing of purulent matter from the teeth. Anæmia
and general debility are conditions brought about by the
absorption of bacterial toxins. Neuralgia and other nervous
disorders are due to reflex irritation from the teeth,