H.-31.

Staff. —On the 31st March, 1933, the staff, disposed as under, numbered eleven dental officers and 205 dental nurses. Twenty-three dental nurses'were appointed in March, 1933, but the retirements during the year were greater than usual, and numbered twenty-one. Thus the net increase in the staff for the year is only two. Dental Dental Officers. Nurses. Director .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 District Dental Superintendents . . .. . . 4* Administrative and training staff, Wellington Clinic .. . 3 2 Staff of school dental clinics— Auckland District .. .. .. .. 2+ 43 Wellington District .. . . .... 51 Canterbury District .. .. .. .. 1 37 Otago District .. .. .. .. .... 22 Keserve group (Wellington) .. .. .. .. .... 27J In training .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 23 11 205 Training of Dental Nurses.—At the commencement of the year under review (Ist April, 1932) fiftv-six probationer dental nurses were in training, thirty-five of these being in their second year, and twenty-one in their first year. Of the thirty-five in their second year all completed the course. During the year twenty-seven of this number were transferred to various parts of the Dominion to staff school dental clinics, while eight were retained in Wellington to assist in carrying out treatment at the Wellington Clinic. Of the twenty-one who were in their first year of training, nineteen have now passed into their second year, and two have retired. Although no new probationer dental nurses were appointed in 1932 there has not been a reduction in the amount of treatment carried out during the year at the Wellington Clinic. Moreover, in order to allow the work of this clinic to continue, it will be necessary to retain in Wellington next year the nineteen nurses who are now in the second year of their training. In February, 1933, twenty-three new probationer dental nurses were appointed. These entered the training-school in March, and have now commenced their training. The final examination was conducted by Mr. Millen Paulin, 8.D.5., and the Superintendent of the Training School on the 13th and 15th March, 1933. Of the fifteen candidates eligible to sit all passed. Four nurses will sit for a special examination to be held in a few months' time. Inspection and Supervision.—The system of decentralized control through District Dental Superintendents has now been in operation for fifteen months, and has proved most successful. Good supervision over the work of the clinics has been maintained (although in the larger districts some assistance for the Dental Superintendents is very desirable), and it is evident that the Dental Clinic Committees appreciate the fact that they can now keep in close personal touch with senior officers of the Department. This personal contact between the Department and the Committee has undoubtedly done much to ensure the smooth running of the Service during the past year. It is pleasing to note that the travelling-expenses connected with the supervision of the work are less under the present system than they were under the system of Inspecting Dental Officers. Thus the present system of administration makes for economy as well as for increased efficiency. SECTION lI.—STATISTICS. Operations performed in the field and in the training school from the Ist January to the 31st December, 1932 : — Fillings— In permanent teeth .. .. .. 139,225 In" first" teeth .. .. .. 243,064 382,289 Extractions — Permanent teeth .. 2,696 " First" teeth .. .. .. 71,937 74,633 Other operations .. .. .. .. 162,468 Total operations .. .. .. .. 619,390 The following figures illustrate the progress of the Service during the last four years :—

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Number of Schools Number of Children ™ . , , T u * Year. under Systematic receiving Systematic Number of Treatment. Treatment. Operations. 1929 .. .. .. .. 775 62,100 370,074 1930 .. .. .. .. 930 67,652 463,204 1931 .. .. .. .. 1,118 68,995 562,759 1932 .. .. .• 1,297 I 72,584 619,390 Total operations since inception : 3,314,402. * The Dental Superintendent of the Otago District is also in charge of the Central Clinic, Dunedin. t Native Dental Officers working among Native schools in Bay of Plenty and East Coast districts. t This number will be somewhat reduced by transfers to the field during the next few weeks.