H.—3l

PART Y.—DENTAL HYGIENE. I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the Dental Division for the year ending 31st March, 1935 : — The School Dental Service has successfully maintained its position during the year under review ; in fact, the statistics reveal a small increase in the number of children under treatment, and also in the number of schools reached by the Service. The former steady expansion of the Service has of necessity suffered a check during the recent years of acute financial stringency. However, two new districts have been opened up during the year under review—namely, Wanganui country district, where the new mobile clinic has been established, and Forbury, Dunedin. Comments on the operation of the mobile clinic appear in another part of this report. A new clinic was also established at Waimataitai, Timaru, but this was in the nature of a reorganization, as the children who are now treated at this clinic formerly attended at another centre. Owing to the fact that no student dental nurses were appointed in 1932, the usual draft of trained dental nurses for service in the field was not available from the training-school in 1934. To meet this position, a reserve of trained dental nurses from the previous year had been retained at the Wellington Clinic, and these were augmented in the field by the temporary re-employment of several ex-dental nurses who had left the Service to be married. Thus the service has been maintained, and at the same time provision for the future was made by the appointment of an increased number of student dental nurses, twenty-five being appointed in 1934, an increase of five over the previous year. Moreover, it is anticipated that a further increase will be made in 1935. The service is now in operation at 248 centres, of which 143 are main centres and 105 are subbases. (The method of organizing sub-bases is illustrated in the map on page 48.) A list of treatment centres is included in this report. While the Wanganui country area (mobile clinic) and Forbury (Dunedin) are the only new districts to be opened up during the year, a certain amount of local extension has been carried out in connection with established clinics. Under this heading, additional sub-base clinics have been established at the following centres, the main centre in each case being shown in parentheses : Waitakaruru (Ngatea, Hauraki Plains), Maraenui (Opotiki), Torere (Opotiki), Blackball (Runanga, Westland), Hanmer Springs (Hawarden, North Canterbury), Kaikoura (Hawarden), and Omakau (Ranfurly). Staff of the Dental Division.

On the 31st March, 1935, the staff, disposed as under, numbered eleven dental officers, 211 dental nurses, and one attendant: —

* The Dental Superintendent of the Otago District is also in charge of the Central Clinic, Dunedin. f Includes two Native Dental Officers working among Native schools in Bay of Plenty and East Coast districts. %Of this number, eighteen will shortly complete their training and will be drafted for service in the field. The appointment of thirty additional student dental nurses has been authorized and is being proceeded with. Statistics. Operations performed in the field and in the training-school from the Ist January to the 31st December ; 1934 : — Fillings— In permanent teeth .. .. .. .. .. 163,555 In " first" teeth .. .. .. .. .. 236,005 399,560 Extractions— Of permanent teeth .. .. .. .. .. 1,992 Of " first" teeth .. .. .. .. .. 68,215 70,207 Other operations .. .. .. .. .. .. 157,111 Total operations .. .. .. .. .. 626,878

44

Dental School Dental Dental Officers. Nurses. Attendant. Director .. .. .. .. .. I District Dental Superintendents .. .. .. 4* Administrative and training staff, Wellington Clinic .. 3 2 Staff of school dental clinics— Auckland District .. .. .. .. 3f 48 Wellington District .. .. .. .. .. 54 Canterbury District .. .. .. .. .. 35 Otago District.. .. .. .. .. .. 22 1 In training .. .. .. .. .. .. 46J On extended leave .. .. .. .. .. 4 11 211 1