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increase in appliances following upon the progressive rise in the number of cases treated, experience
at the Clinic indicates that there has been neither delay nor inconvenience in securing
the apparatus which I have had to specify.
Another fact which emerges from my experience at the Clinic during the past five years
is that my invariable practice of paying careful attention to preventative treatment in the initial
stages of malocclusion with a view to minimising the chances of subsequent undesirable developments
is a policy which has not only proved successful in the vast majority of cases but is also
one inherently suited to the carrying out of orthodontics at school clinics.
Preventative extraction of deciduous teeth followed by the judicious use of splint plates
has resulted almost invariably in the successful checking of any ensuing and undesirable overcrowding
of the teeth. Here again the treatment involved has been demonstrated to be conveniently
available within the normal routines of the dental and orthodontic Sections.
Realisation of the foregoing achievements prompts me once more to emphasize the immediate
suitability of the orthodontic clinic for adoption in our National schools.
X-Ray Examinations.
When first taking up my duties with the Clinic 1 asked the Council to consider the possibility
of installing an X-ray apparatus. This has, in fact, recently been arranged and I am therefore
glad of the opportunity to be able to report that I consider the inevitably rather heavy
expense involved has proved well worth while.
The successful treatment of malocclusion depends to a large extent upon the early recognition
and analysis of the defect and its prompt correction. An examination of the patient's
mouth by means of X-rays is obviously an invaluable if indeed it is not an essential first step.
Prior to the installaton of the X-ray unit it was necessary to arrange for patients to
attend the most convenient institution where the means existed for procuring the desired photographs,
in your case at the West London Hospital. The facilities afforded there were all that
could be wished for and thanks are due to the authorities concerned for their co-operation.
Nevertheless although this arrangement gave a good measure of satisfaction from my own point
of view it must be obvious that it introduced a certain amount of inconvenience and loss of time
for the patient and possibly also for the patient's parents. What is more, treatment could not
commence as expeditiously as might have been desired.
With X-ray apparatus now available within the Clinic it has become a simple matter to
obtain the desired photographic record of the patient's dental condition with the minimum of
delay and without subjecting either patient or parents to the probable inconvenience of attending
an outside hospital.
Beyond doubt, therefore, it can be placed on record here that it is advisable to equip
school orthodontic clinics with X-ray apparatus.
Extension on National Lines.
There is no disputing the fact that a consideration of the problems encountered in the
first few years of any undertaking goes a great deal further towards substantiating (or for that
matter refuting) the claims of the instigators than does any amount of initial but hypothetical
reasoning.
You will no doubt remember that one of my misgivings when accepting office as Orthodontic
Consultant was as to whether it might not transpire that the comprehensive and specialist
treatment of malocclusion which T was determined to assist in providing could not but interfere
seriously with the normal routine dental work at the Clinic. Should such interference have been
eventually experienced it would undoubtedly have prejudiced the case for the general extension
of orthodontic clinics throughout the Country. In actual fact, however, the past year has once
again illustrated that a large number of cases can be handled with all the requisite thoroughness
and yet not give rise to anv inconvenience or delay in carrying out the normal routine of the
Dental Section.
It is of interest to note at this point that by the end of 1937 the total number of cases
which have come before me stands at no less than 1,322.
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