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21
(b) In this respect I believe we are making some headway.
The majority of children, even if only just before school leaving
age, do make an attempt to obtain a healthy mouth.
The factors assisting in this change of heart are: (i) the
influence of the teachers upon the adolescent, (ii) the fact that so
many trades and occupations now insist upon a clean bill of health,
and (iii) the realisation that treatment before leaving school will
save expense during the early years of wage earning.
(c) As many children as possible receive instruction in the
care of the teeth when at the clinic, and the school teachers are very
helpful.
(2) The general administration is, in concurrence with the
Board's recommendation, under the supervision of the School
Medical Officer.
(3) 'Dental inspection to be carried out by a dentist on school
premises and in school hours, and conducted with sufficient care to
enable all children in need of treatment to be selected.'
Dental inspections are carried out in accordance with these
conditions. Lack of adequate inspection facilities in some of the
schools make accurate inspections very difficult, but great care is
taken that no doubtful cases are overlooked.
(4) 'A satisfactory scheme should provide for an annual
examination of each child up to the end of school life, with opportunity
for treatment if necessary. No school scheme can be regarded
as complete which does not make this provision for the whole school
population.'
With the appointment of a fourth dental surgeon it should,
theoretically, be possible to comply with this essential condition.
I should like to refer to this at a later stage.
(5) Accurate Records.
Each dental surgeon is assisted at inspections by an attendant
qualified for clerical work, and all children have their defects
charted down during their examination. This has the advantage
of determining with accuracy the children who have their necessary
treatment completed and those for whom it is refused. The dental
surgeons themselves make a record of all treatment carried out.
(6) The bulk of the treatment of the permanent teeth will be
by filling rather than by extraction.'