H.—3l.

" The expanded course in dental health, education is being pursued, and there is a noticeable increase in the interest displayed by students in this subject. In this connection I desire to acknowledge the very generous assistance of the Principal of the Wellington Training College, Mr. F. Lopdell, and his staff, whose co-operation in again arranging a course of lecture-demonstrations in ' Methods of Teaching ' has been greatly appreciated. . " Wellington Dental Clinic. " Attendances and Operations. —Attendances recorded and operations performed in the Wellington Dental Clinic for the years 1934-35 to 1937-38 are shown below : — Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. " 1934-35 .. .. 29,565 15,139 1,700 19,046 " 1935-36 .. .. 29,645 20,790 1,822 17,485 " 1936-37 .. .. 23,588 15,748 1,444 17,569 " 1937-38 .. .. 47,238 31,014 3,141 31,931 " Increase since last year 23,650 15,266 1,697 14,362 " Total attendances recorded and operations performed to 31st March, 1938 :■ — Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. " 499,896 333,064 72,514 280,760 " The number of patients under treatment, as at 31st March, 1938, is 4,979. " The number of admissions for the year is as follows : — " New patients commenced .. .. .. .. .. 2,747 " Transferred from other centres .. .. .. .. .. 85 "Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,832 " The total loss of patients during the year : — " Patients reaching maximum age for treatment —i.e., twelfth birthday.. 465 " Patients transferred to other centres .. .. .. .. 85 " Treatment lapsed through failure to attend .. .. .. 204 " Total 754 " The net increase of patients under treatment is therefore 2,078. " As there has been over the past five years a steady decrease in the number of patients under treatment (due to the small number of dental nurses), the substantial increase shown is encouraging. " Waiting List. —As indicated in the above section of this report, 2,747 new patients commenced treatment during the year. " The number of names remaining on the waiting list as at the 31st March, 1938, is 1,095. " The number of names remaining on the waiting list as at 31st March, 1937, was 3,398. " It was not until June, 1937, after a lapse of nearly four years, that the treatment of new entrants was recommenced. At this stage the number of names on the list stood at approximately 3,500, and approximately half of this number had been on the list over three years. " At present, of the 1,095 names on the list, none have waited more than Seven months. " It is anticipated that the length of the waiting-period will be steadily reduced, and that by the date of the next annual report the waiting list will have been eliminated. " Clinical Statistics. —Attached hereto is a summary showing the incidence of dental caries in various age-groups. The summary has been compiled from the records of the initial examination of 707 children at the Wellington Dental Clinic."

Incidence of Dental Caries in various Age-groups.

Summary.—(a) 2-7 per cent, of the children examined had perfect sets; (6) 97-3 per cent, of the children examined had carious teeth; (c) in the whole group 93'4 per cent, of the normal number of teeth were actually present; (d) of the total number of teeth present 53-8 per cent, were Bound ; (e) of the total number of teeth present 46-2 per cent, were carious."

60

,(5) Actual Number of Number of Sound Number of Carious (9 , (3) Tsjvlrmni Normal Teeth for Whole Teeth for Whole Teeth for Whole (1) Number ofNumber of Number of Number of Group. Group. Group. A ,V e ;Sr ~eB 0f ™ N lShfor f Teeth for — —— (Years). in Group Sets in A Age for (0) Pe J e 2 taae (8) Percentage (10) Percentage Group. Child Whole Number. 8 Number. Number. „ f e !?f ge Group. of (5). ot (t>). ot (5). Over 10 and under 11 5 .. 24 120 102 85-0 38 37-3 64 62-7 „ 9 „ 10 26 .. 24 624 574 92-0 298 51-9 276 48-1 „ 8 9 54 .. 24 1,296 1,144 88-3 485 42-4 659 57-6 „ 7 8 69 .. 24 1,656 1,471 88-8 672 45-7 799 54-3 „ 6 7 97 .. 24 2,328 2,023 86-9 785 38-8 1,238 61-2 „ 5 6 106 .. 20 2,320 2,143 92-4 899 42-0 1,244 58-0 „ 4 5 132 1 20 2,640 2,601 98-5 1,299 49-9 1,302 50-1 „ 3 4 130 4 20 2,600 2,578 99'2 1,969 76-4 609 23-6 „ 2 3 82 10. 20 1,640 1,583 96-5 1,172 74-0 411 26-0 „ 1 „ 2 6 4 16 96 87 90-6 84 96-6 3 3-4 Total .. ..707 19 .. 15,320 14,306 93-4 7,701 53-8 6,605 46-2