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87
If such serious affections are caused by advanced dental
disease, does it not behove us to insist upon the instruction
of parent and child alike on the value of the necessary
treatment?
Probably the commonest and most neglected disorder of
the mouth is that of "irregular teeth." To this affection
alone Dr. Sim Wallace ascribes 80% of advanced dental
disease; the food, by getting between the irregular teeth,
having many suitable places in which to undergo the process
of fermentation. The treatment of this condition calls for a
large amount of time and patience. It is very tedious, and
often requires the assistance of mechanical apparatus for
permanent cure. Thus it will be seen that in a school dental
clinic, where time is very valuable, such treatment cannot be
perfectly carried out. But, on the other hand, by treating
children when young and continuing examinations, much
may be done by judicious work to alleviate as far as possible
the tendency towards irregularities.
The method used for investigating and recording the
condition of children's mouths and the subsequent treatment
thereof is as follows:—
Notice is first sent to the school whose children are to
be examined. A number of clinic cards are also sent, and
the kind assistance of teachers is obtained to fill in the
name, address, and date of birth of each child. A convenient
time is then arranged for the inspection.
Owing to the large number of children attending school
in Ilford and the impossibility of inspecting them all in one
year, it has been decided to commence with children between
the ages of 7 and 8.
About 10 children are admitted at once into the room
where the inspection takes place. By this method nervousness
is prevented, each child seeing what happens to the