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This can only be maintained if further dental assistance
is given as the work increases.
69 per cent. of the children offered appointments for
treatment, attended Clinic and were treated, indicating a 10
per cent. increase on previous year.
The total number of children (all ages) inspected at school
and at the Clinic, was 2,736, treatment being recommended to
2,192.
1,438 (65.6 per cent.) children received treatment at the
Clinic during the year, necessitating 2,719 attendances, 232
children treated being over 10 years of age. As the result of
treatment, 1,194 children were rendered Dentally sound.
Dr. Scott administered Nitrous Oxide Gas for 310 cases
requiring extraction of teeth; in all other cases local anaesthetic
was employed when practicable. 2,154 temporary and 203 permanent
teeth were extracted. Many cases referred by the Medical
Staff for multiple extraction of teeth as preliminary treatment
before operations for Enlarged Tonsils and Adenoids were found
unsuitable for general anæsthesia owing to respiratory difficulty.
803 temporary and 777 permanent teeth were filled, the
total number of fillings being 2,007.
There is little or no indication at School Inspection of
treatment other than extraction of teeth being obtained
privately in cases where Clinic Treatment is regularly refused.
This may be due partly to reluctance and inability on the part
of Private Practitioners, other than Surgeon Dentists, to perform
conservative operations, and partly due to the cost of the
treatment.
Every advantage is taken of all available opportunities for
propaganda work, emphasising the importance of oral hygiene,
suitable diet, correct breathing, etc. A steady improvement is
noticeable at the School Inspections, but the serviceable toothbrush
is too 'dear a commodity for many of the poorer classes
with large families, and that abomination, the family toothbrush
still persists. This menace can only be combated by
supplying at Schools and Clinics a suitable brush at cost price
to selected cases. No expense need be incurred, and the price at
cost would be within the means of most. At the Special School
each child is provided with a tooth-brush, and tooth-brush drill
is carried out each day under supervision. This is a highly
commendable practice and the advantages are self-evident.
In conclusion, it should be mentioned that Kolynos and
Pepsodent manufacturers have been very generous with samples
of dentifrice. These have been distributed at the various
Clinics and highly appreciated."
Exceptional Children in Wimbledon Schools.
At the end of my Annual Report for 1922, I stated that I
would make in 1923 a special census of all exceptional
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