DENTAL INSPECTION 



Germany. In no part of the public medical service have such 

 valuable results been obtained through the expenditure of such 

 small funds. The experience of many cities demonstrates that 

 the health of the children has been markedly improved by dental 

 treatment and that the work has been of genuine value in the 

 campaign against tuberculosis and contagious disease. The 

 number of children requiring treatment each year is steadily 

 declining, and with the development of better conditions the num- 

 ber of extractions is becoming constantly smaller. Moreover, 

 both children and parents appreciate the value of the dental work 

 and voluntarily apply for treatment instead of having to be urged 

 to submit to it as was formerly the case. 



ENGLAND 



In England the first dental clinic was started in Cambridge 

 in 1907 as a private venture. Two years later the work was taken 

 over by the city. At the present time provisions for the dental 

 treatment of school children are made in 16 cities. In three of 

 these the clinic is connected with a public infirmary and sup- 

 ported by municipal contribution. In 12 cities the dental clinics 

 are supported by separate institutions, and in five of these cases 

 the dentists are employed on whole time and in the other seven 

 on part time. One city employs part-time dentists but does not 

 support a clinic. 



Perhaps the most significant and interesting school dental 

 work now being carried on in England is that conducted by the 

 county of Somerset. In that county ten dentists are employed 

 to care for the teeth of children in the villages and country districts 

 as well as in the larger towns. They are paid at the rate of $7.50 

 per six-hour day and are allowed to give their time in either 

 whole or half days. They are allowed 12 cents for material for 

 each child treated and are granted allowances to cover reasonable 

 traveling expenses. Wherever possible the work is done in the 

 private office of the dentist, and where this cannot be arranged 

 the school authorities set aside a room for the purpose. The 

 instruments and appliances are supplied by the dentists. 



Conditions among the English children have been found so 

 serious that in general the object of the work is to prevent the 



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