H.—3l

The following figures illustrate the progress of the Service during the last five years : —

The Training of Dental Nurses. At the commencement of the year under review (Ist April, 1934), twenty-two nurses were in training —these all in their second year. Eighteen of this group sat and passed the final examination, and shortly will be transferred to various parts of the Dominion to staff school dental clinics. Four who were not eligible to sit the final examinations will be given a special final examination at a later date. Twenty-five new probationer dental nurses were appointed in May and one in July. Of these, twenty-four have passed their primary examination and will soon commence their second-year training. Two were retired. Dr. Ada Paterson and Dr. F. S. McLean were examiners for the primary examination (anatomy and physiology) held on the 3rd and 4th October, 1934. Of the twenty-three candidates who presented for examination, fifteen were successful in passing both subjects, and eight anatomy only. One was absent on sick leave. A special primary examination held in February of this year saw these nine candidates complete this examination. The final examination held on the 25th, 27th, and 28th March for the eighteen senior nurses eligible, was conducted by Mr. Millen Paulin, 8.D.5., and the Superintendent of the Training School. The candidates sitting this examination all succeeded in passing. Wellington Dental Clinic. The following is an extract from the report of the Superintendent, Mr. J. B. Bibby : — Attendances and Operations. —Attendances and operations performed in the Dental Clinic, Wellington, for the year ending 31st March, 1935, are shown below, with the 1933-34 figures in parentheses :— Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. 29,565 15,139 ' 1,700 19,046 (35,430) (28,703) (2,530) (18,833) Total attendances and operations performed since the opening of the Wellington Clinic to 31st March, 1935, are — Attendances. Fillings. Extractions. Other Operations. 399,325 265,522 66,107 213,775 The volume of work for the past year has again shown a decline. This is directly the result of the limited number of operators, but there is a further factor, in that last year the operative work was in the hands of the reserve group of trained dental nurses. As mentioned in my last report it is very obvious that much advantage would accrue from the retention permanently of a group of trained dental nurses in the Wellington Clinic. Number of Patients under Treatment. —At the 31st March, 1935, the number of patients under treatment was 4,775, as compared with 5,907 at the end of the previous year. Annual Registration Fee. —Registration during the twelve months ending 31st March, 1935, totalled 3,100, compared with 3,435 for the previous year. Exemptions granted were 341, or 11 per cent, of the total of those paying the registration, last year's figures being 693 and 20-2 per cent, respectively. Of those eligible for treatment at 31st March, 1935, 72 per cent, have paid a registration fee, or have been exempted, compared with 71-4 per cent, at 31st March, 1933, and again 71*4 per cent, at 31st March, 1934. Ratio op Extractions to Fillings. In recent annual reports mention has been made of the steady decrease year by year in the number of teeth extracted as compared with the number saved by filling. Since all children who are under the care of the clinics are treated, and completed, twice in each year, these figures are of interest as showing, in effect, the proportion of unsaveable to saveable teeth. The decrease year by year represents a steady improvement in the dental health of the schoolchild, or, to be more precise, of those school-children who come under the care of the school dental clinics. The fact that the number of patients per officer is strictly limited doubtless contributes to this result.

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Number of Schools Number of Children Total Number of Year. under Systematic receiving Systematic Operations Treatment. Treatment. * I - 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 Total operations since the inception of the Service : 4,564,905.