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children up to the age of 12 years. In 1931 the dental inspections
will be still further extended and will include all children attendin-;
the public elementary schools.
During the year under review 4,270 children were dentally
inspected. This represents an increase of 1,233 over the figure
for the previous year. 3,179 or 74.4% were found to require
treatment and their parents were notified accordingly.
The number of children actually treated was 1,858 or 58%
of those who were found to require treatment. It is still difficult
to obtain consent for treatment in a considerable number of
cases. When appointments are not kept visits are paid to the
homes by the School Nurses, and every effort is made to get the
parents to attend with their children at the dental clinic. The
Saturday morning dental clinics which were started during 1930
have been entirely justified, and have shewn a good average
attendance.
40 half days were devoted to dental inspection in the schools
and 411 half days to treatment at the Health Centre.
The number of attendances made by children for treatment
amounted to 3,713. This is 782 more than the figure for the
previous year. The average number of children attending for
treatment per session was 9, a slight increase over the figure
for 1929.
The total number of fillings amounted to 2,318 or 497 more
than during the previous year. Far more attention has been
paid to the filling of permanent teeth. In consequence the
number of temporary teeth filled shews a very considerable drop.
The number of teeth extracted shews an increase of 682, the
total figure for the year being 3,434. 517 general anaesthetics
were administered for dental extractions.
(i) Crippling Defects and Orthopaedics. During the latter
part of the year the Education and Maternity and Child Welfare
Committees considered the question of the provision of an orthopaedic
scheme for children below school age and also for
children attending school. Under this scheme the following
arrangements have been made with St. Thomas' Hospital.
(i) The Orthopaedic Clinic will be held at the Health
Centre, Pelham Road, Wimbledon.
(ii) Patients will be collected by the School Medical Officer
or his department.
(iii) An Orthopaedic Surgeon from St. Thomas' Hospital
will attend the clinic once a month or at such other
intervals as may be arranged.
(iv) In-patient treatment will be carried out at St. Thomas'
Hospital or at Pyrford, according to the nature of the
case.
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