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This was readily granted, but owing to the arrangements
with Acton, it will not be available until April of the
present year.
"In the matter of propaganda and Instruction—in
March two films: 'The Care of the Teeth' and 'Your
Mouth,' were exhibited to the older children of the
Belmont and Hogarth Schools. Thanks to the efforts
of the Director of Education, the use of the local Cinema
was obtained for two mornings, free of charge. During
Health Week, held in October, Lectures illustrated by
lantern slides or charts were given in the Senior Boys'
and Girls' Classes. I should like to take this opportunity
of expressing my sincere thanks to the Director of
Education for his unfailing interest and practical help
in all matters pertaining to the teaching of Dental
Hygiene in the Schools.
" The most encouraging feature of the year's work
from the point of view of its bearing on the future, is the
increase of over 200 per cent, in the number of children
referred for treatment from the Maternity and Child
Welfare Centres, the majority of whom attended for
conservative treatment. The immense importance of
this conservative treatment of the Temporary Dentition
cannot be over-estimated. As a general rule, 60-70 per
cent, of children in the five year age groups (entrants)
are found to have defective temporary molars (teeth
which should normally remain in the mouth till the 10th
and 12th years). Over 20 per cent. had chronic dental
abscesses, and were totally unable to properly masticate
their food, as a result of which their health was being
seriously undermined. The only treatment possible in
these cases is extraction, but premature removal of
temporary molars frequently results in under-development
of the jaws and overcrowded permanent teeth. This,
although a lesser evil, is not a condition to be aimed at.
If the ideal of the School Dental Service, i.e., that every
child should be given the opportunity of leaving School
with a full set of sound teeth in well developed jaws is to
be obtained, then dental Inspection and treatment must
be available from the time of eruption of the temporary
molars, viz.: 2.2½ years of age.
"As practically all the children referred from the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, will eventually