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29
Mrs. Thorne, L.D.S., reports as follows:—
"During the past year, treatment has been given to children
from the Elementary Schools between the ages of 5—14 years, the
Central Schools and Special Schools up to 16 years, and the holders
of Scholarships in the Technical and the Secondary Schools.
' 'The extension of the treatment scheme to scholarship children
has been long in demand, and many of these scholars used to return
requesting to continue under the Clinic not only for monetary
reasons, but for preference.
"The Senior Schools are now under routine inspection; the
younger children have been accustomed to periodic inspection, but
the leavers have had no such opportunity, and previously received
treatment only when they applied or were advised to do so by the
School Doctors. The numbers of acceptances for treatment vary
so greatly that it is not easy to assign any one reason for the many
refusals. One Senior School showed almost the largest number of
acceptances, while another in the same district gave the very lowest.
With one or two exceptions, there has been a very fair return at
this first inspection of Senior Schools, and it has fully justified the
expansion; also, it enables a certain amount of valuable following
up to be carried on.
"In September, the Dental Board sent a representative, who
gave very useful and instructive addresses on oral hygiene to the
Senior Schools. This could not but be of value in encouraging the
children to accept advice and treatment on their own behalf. The
child appreciates being personally instructed in the care of his
teeth, and can be better relied upon to carry out instructions than
the parent.
"Subsequent to this address, the following Higher Elementary
and Senior Schools have been inspected:—North and South Central
Boys', Marsh Street Boys', Edinburgh Road Girls', Winn's Avenue
Boys' and Girls', Blackhorse Road Girls', Mission Grove Girls',
William Morris Boys' and Girls' . In these 10 schools the number of
acceptances of treatment average 25 per cent.of the forms
distributed.
"In 6 Junior Schools 35 per cent.accepted, while in 4 Infants'
Schools 39 per cent.accepted treatment. These figures show a
large proportion of refusals, and the acceptances from Senior Schools
are not as favourable as those of the other schools which have been
continually visited, and the figures speak for themselves, showing
the urgent need for continually bringing before the minds of the
elder scholars the value of a sound dentition, and also an important
and not negligible point that it can be maintained with little pain ,
or inconvenience.