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Mr. Soper reports:-
During the year all Schools in the area served by the Balaam
Street Dental Clinic have been inspected and treatment given to
all those accepting it.
Conservative treatment is coming to be more readily
accepted by the parents; so much so, in fact, that every afternoon
session was devoted as exclusively as possible to that work. It
was usually difficult to convince parents that it was necessary
and very well worth while to conserve temporary teeth, and it
would almost seem that more of these teeth the children lost the
better the parents liked it.
The number of special cases was not great, and did not
hinder routine work much. In this respect as in many others the
Head Teachers helped greatly by sending special cases to the
Clinic as early as possible.
The percentage of children requiring no treatment was small,
and a number presented symptoms predisposing towards Pyorrhoea,
due for the most part to mouth breathing, irregular teeth
and, of course, insufficient cleaning. Fortunately, only a few
of these cases were serious, and all responded satisfactorily to
treatment, but as it was often practically impossible to remove
the cause a number of these cases is bound to occur.
Miss Marsden reports:-
During the year all the Schools in The Custom House area
have been inspected and treatment given to those children who
took advantage of the scheme for dental treatment.
The number of refusals for treatment is still far larger than
one could wish, owing in the main part to the children being
allowed to decide for themselves whether they will accept treatment
or not.
Unfortunately, children of school age do not always realise
the necessity of dental treatment unless their parents also are
insistent on it. This results in a large number of "Specials."
Children wait until they have toothache and then use the Clinic
as a convenience.
Children recommended for admission to the Fyfield Open-air
School are always more amenable to treatment.
The Hygiene Classes in the Schools are producing better
results—use being made of the Dental Board's pamphlets, etc.
Head Teachers and Assistant Teachers are always very willmg
to help, and I should like to thank all for their very great help
and assistance.
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