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Boys' and Girls' Departments of one school, where acceptances
were almost negligible, are omitted, the percentage for Seniors
rises from 45 to 52.5.
"It is well known that 'statistics' may be made to prove
almost any hypothesis, but I believe that these definite facts
may be accepted as, at least, encouraging.
"They are particularly encouraging to me, believing as I do
that the aim of the Dental Surgeon should be, not only to do the
necessary work that lies ready to his hand, but so to encourage
his small patients that, not only now but in the future they may
be willing to accept that treatment which, in the present state
of our knowledge, is usually required at intervals throughout their
lives.
''During the year talks on the care of the teeth have been given
by a lecturer from the Dental Board to the following Departments:—
School Effect on Acceptances.
Blackhorse Road Girls The percentage of acceptances
increased slightly to the
figure of 28 per cent.
Chapel End Boys A considerable decrease to 7
per cent.
Chapel End Girls About the same at 21 per cent.
George Gascoigne Girls About the same at 88 per cent.
William Morris Girls Slight increase to 75 per cent.
Another feature that gives encouragement is the appreciation
of the treatment that has been undertaken since June of
irregularities of the teeth and jaws by means of appliances.
Nineteen of these have been inserted and although the time is
too short for many cures, all the cases present improvement, in
several instances very rapid, and in one the malformation is
completely remedied.
"An advantage of this type of treatment, apart from its direct
uses, is that it assists to dispel a fallacy that is present in the
minds of so many people that the sole function of a Dental Clinic
is the removal of aching and septic teeth, with perhaps their
restoration by means of artificial substitutes.
"In two cases of a boy and girl nearing leaving age, they have
been supplied with partial artificial dentures in place of several
teeth which could not be saved but whose non-replacement would
have left them under the disability of an unsightly appearance.
"But in spite of various encouraging features the fact remains
that they apply only to the remedy of a state of affairs that is
appalling. I estimate that of about 8,000 children examined,