35

H.-31

Owing to resignations from the Service and officers being absent owing to sickness, the clinics at Dunedin South and Gore have been recently closed temporarily, while at present Palmerston North has the service of only one nurse, but these positions will be filled early in April. Number of main treatment centres, 88 ; number of sub-bases, 59 ; number of schools under systematic treatment, 740 ; number of children receiving systematic treatment, 60,289. New Clinics. —Since the 31st March, 1929, new clinics have been established at the following places : Eketahuna, Levin, Matamata, Ohakune, Otahuhu, Petone, Pukekohe, Te Aroha, Te Paroa-totara, Waihi, Wairoa, Hornby, Kurow, Milton, Southbridge, Takaka, Wyndham. During the next few weeks, clinics will be opened at Patea, Ormondville, Shannon, Upper Hutt, Taihape, Manurewa, Helensville, Devonport, Mount Eden, Ellerslie, Birkenhead, Mount Roskill, Rangiora, Linwood, Papanui, Geraldine, Rakaia, Clinton, and Ranfurly. The clinics at the following places are being reinforced : Whangarei, Onehunga, Hastings, Lower Hutt, Gisborne, Wanganui, Hamilton, Napier, and Edendale. Training of Dental Nurses. —At the commencement of the year under review—lst April, 1929 — there were seventy-four probationer dental nurses in training. Of these, forty were in the first year of their training and thirty-four in their second year. During the year these numbers have been reduced to thirty-nine and thirty-two respectively. Thirty nurses of the Senior Division passed the final examination held in March, 1930, and became available for staffing school dental clinics in various parts of the Dominion. Three, more will sit for their final examination at a later date. At the date of this report (31st March, 1930) the number of dental nurses in training is seventy-eight, of whom thirty-nine are entering on their second year, and thirty-nine are new probationers who commenced duty on the 25th March, 1930. As in previous years, Dr. M. H. Watt and Dr. Ada Paterson were the examiners for the primary examination (anatomy and physiology), which was held in November, 1929. It is satisfactory to note that all the candidates were successful in passing the examination. The final examination was held in the middle of March, 1930, the examiner being Mr. Millen Paulin, 8.D.5., assisted by a member of the instructional staff. It is satisfactory to note that in his report Mr. Paulin referred to the high standard that was being maintained in the training of the dental nurses. The instructional staff is now as follows : The Deputy Director, Mr. J. L. Saunders, 8.D.5., who is Superintendent and Chief Instructor ; Messrs. J. B. Bibby, A. D. Brice, 8.D.5., and R. M. S. Taylor, 8.D.5., Lecturers and Clinical Instructors. Despite the more stringent conditions governing entrance to the Service, the number of applicants for appointment as probationer dental nurses was even greater this year than in previous years. This must be regarded as very satisfactory, as it enables a high standard to be maintained in the personnel of the service. Reference was made in my last annual report to the revision of the syllabus of training. During the past twelve months the training has been carried out in accordance with the revised syllabus with satisfactory results. Treatment performed during 1929. —The following is a summary of the operations performed from the Ist January to the 31st December, 1929, by dental officers, dental nurses, and probationers in training : Fillings —permanent teeth, 72,102 ; deciduous teeth, 118,832 ; extractions, 71,128 ; other operations, 108,012 : total operations, 370,074. Of the above treatment the dental nurses in the field have performed the following : Fillings —permanent teeth, 56,681 ; deciduous teeth, 94,929 ; extractions, 60,276 ; other operations, 76,496 : total operations, 288,382. SECTION 2.—DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, ETC. I regard this part of our work of the utmost importance. Both Mr. Saunders and myself have acceded to a number of requests from different societies to give addresses on the subject. Officers and nurses throughout the Service are instructed to take every opportunity to instruct parents and children with regard to the prevention of dental disease on the lines laid down by the Department. That good results have been obtained there can be no doubt, but it is to be regretted that parents do not to a larger degree put into practice the simple rules taught them on the question. If the problem of dental disease is to be solved, and there is going to be any great dimunition in the amount of dental disease among the people of this Dominion, it can only be by their altering their present-day diet and dietetic habits, and until that is so the problem that the Department is faced with will always be a very big one. Equipment. —Although it can be said that our equipment is now fairly well standardized, it is still being found necessary to make some slight alterations, more particularly to that part of it being used for mobile purposes. In this connection I hope to be of service during my contemplated visit to England by assisting the High Commissioner's Office in the selection of suitable equipment to fill the order just sent Home. I would take this opportunity of paying a tribute to the very able and loyal service rendered by my Deputy, Mr. Saunders, and the officers of my Division. I cannot speak too highly also of the keenness displayed by the members of the instructional staff, and the Inspecting Dental Officers. The spirit displayed generally by officers and dental nurses throughout the Service is a matter for congratulation.