M.—3l.

Statistics. Operations performed in the field and in the training-school from Ist January to the 31st December, 1935: — Fillings — In permanent teeth .. .. ~ .. 205,012 In deciduous teeth .. .. .. .. .. 245,745 450,757 Extractions— Of permanent teeth .. .. ~ . . . , 1 964 Of deciduous teeth .. .. ~ ~ .. 70 818 — 72,782 Other operations .. .. .. .. 150,835 Total operations .. .. .. .. .. 674,374 _ The following figures illustrate the progress of the Service during the last six years

These figures include the years of acute financial stringency, during which the annual extension of the service to new districts became impossible. It is satisfactory to note that no ground has been lost, and that, on the contrary, the figures disclose a small, but steady, increase each year. Total number of operations since the inception of the service: 5,239,279. The Training of Dental Nurses. . For the year under review there were twenty-nine dental nurses in their first year of training and twenty-four nurses in, their second year. The final examination for this latter group was held during March, 1936, the examiners being Dr. R. E. T. Hewat, D.D.S. (N.Z.), of Wanganui, and the Acting Superintendent of the Training-school (Mr. A. D. Brice, 8.D.5.). Of the twenty-four candidates, all were successful except two, who obtained a partial pass, and who at a later date will be afforded a further opportunity of satisfying the examiners. Thirty new probationer dental nurses were appointed in July, 1935, but one was retired almost immediately. Of the remaining twenty-nine all were successful in passing the primary examination held during November, the examiners being Dr. Helen Bakewell and Dr. Phyllis Moir, of the School Medical Service. Wellington Dental Clinic. The following is an extract from the report of Mr. A. D. Brice, 8.D.5., who is Acting Superintendent during the absence abroad of the Superintendent, Mr. J. B. Bibby, B.A. Attendance and Operations.—Attendances recorded and operations performed in the Dental Clinic, Wellington, for the year ending 31st March, 1936, are shown below, with the 1934-35 figures in parentheses. Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. 29,645 20,790 1,822 17,485 (29,565) (15,139) (1,700) (19,046) Total attendances recorded and operations performed since the opening of the Wellington Clinic to 31st March, 1936, are— Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. 428,970 286,312 67,929 231,260 Number of Patients under Treatment.-—At the 31st March, 1936, the number of patients under treatment was 3,440. Various factors, including a purging of the list of patients for whom treatment had been suspended owing to failure to return within a specified time, have combined to reduce the number of patients on the register from 4,775, as shown in the previous year. Annual Registration Fee.—Re-registrations of patients during the twelve months ended 31st March, 1936, totalled 2,633. Exemption from payment of the annual registration fee of 2s. 6d. was granted in 452 cases, or 14-3 per cent, of the total re-registrations. This does not include orphanage patients, who are also exempted from payment. Waiting List.—At present the list of children awaiting admission to the Wellington Clinic stands at 3,526. Nine hundred and twenty-five applications for treatment have been

36

Number of Schools Number of Children „ , , ,, , , Year. under Systematic receiving Systematic iotal .Number of Treatment. Treatment. Operations. 1930 930 67,652 463,204 1931 •• •• •• •• 1,118 68,995 562,759 1932 1,297 72,584 619,390 1933 •• •• •• 1,430 78,391 623,625 1934 •• •• •• 1,551 83,433 626,878 1935 ■■ •• •• 1,590 84,738 674,374 — I