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extension of the service is much appreciated both by children and
parents. Long: and difficult visits to a London Hospital extending
sometimes over a period of years are no longer necessary and no
child is denied regulation treatment because of its parents' inability
to make long journeys. The proposed Orthodontic Surgery was
not available during 1946 and the Orthodontic Clinic was carried
on in one of the existing surgeries at Chiswick. This arrangement
interfered with routine work and it is hoped to complete
the new surgery in 1947. Mr. Ballard has submitted a report
on the first six months' work of this most welcome extension of
the service. It must be stressed that there is already a long
waiting list for treatment and that more sessions will be required
in the near future.
2,422 children were inspected during 24 routine inspection
sessions and 1,751 referred for treatment. 973 children attended
the clinic as casual or emergencies. The vast majority were
children whose parents were anxious to obtain regular treatment,
and not purely relief from pain. 919 of these cases were referred
for treatment.
The over-all acceptance rate was 85% and a total of 2,422
children actually received treatment during the year (2 Secondary
Grammar Schools inspected during 1945 were treated in 1946).
5,235 permanent fillings and 1,656 temporary fillings were inserted.
295 permanent teeth were extracted for caries and 81 for overcrowding.
1,851 temporary teeth were extracted. 2,335 other
operations were carried out.
The ratio of permanent teeth filled to permanent teeth extracted
remains high at 18: 1 and the ratio of temporary teeth
filled to temporary teeth extracted improved to 1 : 1.1.
Appreciation of conservative dentistry continues to grow and
the service in this area has reached a stage in its development
when it is, in the large majority of cases, no longer a question
of persuading parents to accept treatment. The problem is to
cope with a very definite demand for regular attention. This can
be provided only by a service which is well equipped and well
staffed. An output of 2,865 fillings per Dental Officer is a very
satisfactory one and it is obvious that if the present high standardof
treatment, reflected in the ratio of fillings to extractions, is to
be maintained and the time elapsing between routine inspection
decreased, the service will have to expand. The raising of the
school leaving age will place an additional responsibility on the
service.
Tribute must be paid again to the help afforded by the teachers
of the district; they contribute very largely to the smooth running
of the service.
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