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ren under 6 years old, including those of the pre-school age. Also
those children between the ages of 8—14 years have only had
treatment when they came in the 6—8 years age group, thus there
has been some interval without any treatment. At the same
time, the parents are not too amenable to dental treatment for
the younger children, but I think in due course they will appreciate
the benefits derived from an early visit to the Dentist. One
great feature of the new scheme of treating all children attending
school is the number of permanent teeth which have been saved,
numbering 1,005 in the year. The great advantage of fillings has
still to be impressed upon the parents, a good many of whom are
only partial to extractions, but here again time will remove all
existing prejudices. As I have been concentrating on the conservation
of permanent teeth, I have not had sufficient time available
to do as many temporary fillings as I would like.
One great difficulty arises in the use of local anæsthesia
only for extractions. Many mouths are so septic that local anesthesia
is contra-indicated, and these patients have to be refused
treatment, which results in prolonged and further sepsis.
If they are referred to a local hospital it usually means that no
further trouble is taken to obtain treatment, unless the condition
becomes very painful. Another indication for the necessity of
General Anaesthesia is for the younger children. Many of them
require multiple extractions, and apart from local anaesthesia being
a rather uncongenial method, hardly more than one tooth can
be extracted at one sitting. Repeated sittings for children between
4—6 years is not very satisfactory, and often the second and third
appointments are forgotten. Usually the most offending tooth is
extracted, and the child is sent away with a mouth in a not very
much better condition. With the introduction of General Anesthesia
more work could be done with greater advantage to both
patient and dentist.
SUMMARY OF WORK AT WEST HAM SCHOOL CLINICS.
The four School Clinics serving the Borough, are as follows:—
(1) Stratford Clinic, 84 West Ham Lane,
Drs. Skerrett and Thomas.
(2) Balaam Street Clinic, Plaistow—serving two areas.
Drs. Lupton and Borland.
(3) Swanscombe Street Clinic, Canning Town.
Dr. Powrie.
(4) Rosetta Road Clinic, Custom House.
Dr. Furniss.
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